Several artists from the agency Fantagio have requested dispute mediation from the Korea Entertainment Management Association (KEMA).

On May 14, a source from KEMA stated, “Last Friday, artists requested dispute mediation over their exclusive contracts. If it is recognized as an illegal business, their exclusive contracts could become invalid without any liability.”

A source from KEMA told news outlet TV Daily that actress Kang Han Na and three other artists under Fantagio had requested the dispute mediation. It was reported in April that Kang Han Na had expressed her intent to leave the agency and has been promoting independently from Fantagio. The agency stated that they were attempting to reach an amicable agreement with the actress.

In October of 2017, Chinese investment group JC Group’s Korean branch Gold Finance Korea became the Fantagio’s largest shareholder. Later that year, JC Group dismissed Fantagio’s co-CEO Na Byung Jun, and former co-CEO Wei Jie of JC Group became the sole CEO of the agency.

It has been argued that Fantagio is now operating illegally, because following the dismissal of Na Byung Jun, the agency lacks board members that meet the requirements of the Act on the Development of the Public Culture and Arts Industry and continues to operate under Na Byung Jun’s name. KEMA has sent several written notices to Fantagio about this so far.

On May 11, the CEO of Fantagio Music Woo Young Seung was also dismissed, and Wei Jie’s secretary has taken over his position.

Fantagio currently houses approximately 30 celebrities, also including Seo Kang Joon, Gong Myung, Hello Venus, Weki Meki, ASTRO, and Wanna One’s Ong Seong Woo.

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