​Former Chinese EXO member loses lawsuit against SM Entertainment

By Park Sae-jin Posted : March 20, 2018, 17:44 Updated : March 20, 2018, 17:54

[Tao's Instagram]


SEOUL -- Tao, a Chinese deserter of South Korea's popular boy band EXO, lost a lawsuit over his departure from the group's agency, SM Entertainment, at a court in Seoul.

The suit was filed when Tao bolted from the group in August 2015, claiming his 10-year exclusive contract with SM Entertainment was unfair, limited his individual promotion and took away his freedom.

After a three-year-long legal battle, SM Entertainment said Tuesday that the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the country's largest label. The court ruled that the contract was still valid, although Tao scored a victory in a separate lawsuit in China. 

In 2014, two other Chinese members, Kris and Luhan, filed similar lawsuits to nullify their contracts, but they reached a compromise in 2016 after the court recommended reconciliation. SM agreed to continue its contract with Kris and Luhan until 2022 and take care of their management outside South Korea and Japan.

 
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