ATTRAKT

ATTRAKT (어트랙트) is a South Korean record label and entertainment agency.

History

2022–present: FIFTY FIFTY debut and lawsuit, girl group project, boy group auditions

On November 10, 2022, ATTRAKT revealed their new girl group name, FIFTY FIFTY, and posted their first teaser indicating that they are ready to debut.^[1] On November 12, it was announced that they will make their debut on November 18 with the EP The Fifty.^[2]

In June 23, 2023, ATTRAKT stated that they are currently in the midst of a legal battle against third parties that allegedly approached their artists to sign with them and encourage them to ignore their current valid exclusive contracts.^[3] That same week, ATTRAKT stated that they have obtained material evidence that an outside party tried to get FIFTY FIFTY to join them and that Warner Music Korea had been involved in the discussions. They also sent a certification of contents and asked the agency to provide a precise explanation and statement of their position.^[4] Warner Music Korea denied all the claims later that day.^[5]

On June 28, 2023, FIFTY FIFTY's legal representative, Barun Law Firm, announced that the members and their parents have filed a lawsuit against ATTRAKT to suspend their exclusive contracts, citing violation of contract and the members' reputation being damaged through recent media reports.^[6] Sometime after, ATTRAKT, the members of FIFTY FIFTY and their parents, began mediation to find a resolution; however two months later, it was reported that the mediations have fallen through and that both parties will return to the trial process.^[7] By August 17, 2023, Barun Law Firm announced that the members of FIFTY FIFTY filed a criminal complaint against ATTRAKT CEO Jeon Hong Joon for "violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Economic Crimes (breach of trust)."^[8] On August 28, 2023 the Seoul Central District Court rejected FIFTY FIFTY's request for an injunction to suspend their exclusive contract with ATTRAKT due to insufficient evidence.^[9] Two days later, the members appealed the court's decision, thus their case will once again be opened and examined.^[10] By October, it was revealed that Keena has made the decision to change her legal representative from Barun Law Firm to Shinwon Law Firm, and so, she withdrew her request to suspend her contract.^[11][12] Subsequently, Keena return to ATTRAKT as a member of FIFTY FIFTY, whilst Saena, Sio and Aran will move forward with their lawsuit with Barun Law Firm.^[13][14] That same month, the Seoul High Court rejected Saena, Sio and Aran's appeal, however, ATTRAKT announced that they have made the decision to terminate their exclusive contracts by themselves.^[15][16]

As a result of only one single remaining member, ATTRAKT disclosed in early November that they plan to reorganize FIFTY FIFTY and that they would be continuing FIFTY FIFTY with Keena and three trainees who will join the group as new members to once again make it a four-member girl group.^[17][18]

Soon after, it was announced by Yoon & Yang Law Firm, the legal representative of Ahn Sung Il, CEO of FIFTY FIFTY's production company The Givers, that they have opened a lawsuit to sue ATTRAKT CEO Jeon Hong Joon for defamation for claims of being one of the parties involved in attempting to remove FIFTY FIFTY from ATTRAKT by coercing the members to pursue legal separation from their label.^[19] However, in a turn of events, by December 2023, ATTRAKT announced that they have filed lawsuits against a total of 12 individuals, including former members Saena, Aran, and Sio, along with their parents and The Givers CEO Ahn Sung Il, amounting to a total of 13 billion KRW.^[20] Later, they also filed a new separate lawsuit against The Givers to seize their provisional bonds, in addition to their previous lawsuit seeking compensation for damages.^[21]

At the same time, the Seoul police and the Seoul High Court became involved and all parties were investigated for embezzlement; eventually ATTRAKT CEO Jeon Hong Joon was cleared of charges, meanwhile The Givers CEO Ahn Sung Il was found suspected of embezzlement and now faces prosecution for obstruction of justice, destruction of records, and breach of trust.^{[22][23][24][25]}

On September 4, 2023 ATTRAKT announced an upcoming new girl group project.^[26] On October 20, JTBC and ATTRAKT announced that they have discussing a survival show, which aims to create the agency's next global girl group.^[27] On October 24, 2023, ATTRAKT and JTBC officially confirm the production of a new girl group audition program.^[28]

On June 20, 2024, it was revealed that the first trial of lawsuits filed by ATTRAKT in December 2023 against the 12 individuals have begun.^[29] However, by July 1, it appears that ATTRAKT had won their lawsuits against all parties and they have seized an estimated 13 billion KRW.^[30]

On September 11, 2024, in an exclusive leak by Dispatch, they exposed that on May 17, 2023, there was a secret meeting in the basement conference room of Warner Music Korea, where Jin Seung Young, the representative of Warner Music Korea, allegedly attempted to sway the members and their parents to go against ATTRAKT CEO Jeon Hong Joon by convincing them that their CEO is greedy and encouraged the members and parents to tamper with their contracts. The evidence Dispatch acquired nullified Warner Music Korea's previous claims of not not being involved.^[31] Soon after the exposé, ATTRAKT launched another lawsuit, this time against Warner Music Korea to seek compensation for the damages, thus they are accused of tampering by allegedly contacting the members before the expiration of their contracts. CEO Jeon Hong Joon commented "The fact that a subsidiary of Warner Music, one of the three major global record companies, attempted to take away the valuable artists of a small Korean entertainment agency is an unforgivable and shameless act. The actual amount of damages is higher, and we plan to increase the claim beyond 200 million USD.".^[32]

On February 5, 2025, ATTRAKT announced global audition for their next K-pop boy band.^[33]

Artists

Group

• FIFTY FIFTY (2022–present)

Soloist

• Keena (2022–present)
• Bobby Kim (2025-present)

Trainees

• ATTRAKT new girl group (2023–present)
• ATTRAKT new boy group (2025-present)

Former artists

• FIFTY FIFTY^[34]
  • Saena (2022–2023)
  • Sio (2022–2023)
  • Aran (2022–2023)

References

Official links

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Twitter
• YouTube

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