Aju Business Daily

SEOUL -- Helped by mediation from an entertainment management group, Kang Daniel, a former member of South Korea's defunct project boy band Wanna One, has solved a legal dispute with his former management agency, opening the way for unlimited promotions two months after he released his solo album.

A dispute between Kang Daniel, 22, and his former agency, LM Entertainment, erupted earlier this year over the operation of his social media account. The singer launched a legal battle to terminate a contract with LM and established his one-man agency. LM filed a lawsuit, insisting it owns exclusive management rights to the singer's activities.

The singer successfully debuted solo in July with his album "color on me" that topped major South Korean song charts, but his activities have been restricted due to a legal battle with LM.

Finally, the two sides came to a settlement this week through mediation by the Korea Entertainment Management Association (KEMA). They agreed to cancel lawsuits against each other, while LM would respect Kang Daniel's future promotions as a solo artist under his new label.

"The dispute between Kang Daniel and his former agency LM Entertainment over the termination of his exclusive contract and other disputes resulted in an agreement between the two parties through the mediation of the Korea Entertainment Management Association," KEMA told reporters on Friday. 

Kang Daniel joined LM after Wanna One disbanded after 16 months of successful activity. He opened an Instagram account in January and was officially recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records for achieving a new record for the fastest time to gain one million followers on Instagram, breaking the previous record set by Pope Francis.

The former agency had tried to control Kang Daniel's activities, but the singer argued he should be allowed to communicate freely with fans.