Warner Music Korea vs. Attrakt: $14M K-Pop Lawsuit Set to Explode in Court this September
In a major legal showdown that’s grabbed the attention of the entire K-pop industry, Attrakt and Warner Music Korea are heading to court this September over a massive ₩20 billion KRW (approx. $14 million USD) lawsuit. At the heart of the battle? Allegations that Warner tried to steal former members of girl group Fifty Fifty.
The first hearing is officially set for 11:30 AM on September 11, according to Korea JoongAng Daily. And if the claims are true, this could shake the very foundation of how K-pop deals are made — and broken.
So, what’s the backstory?
Back in October 2024, Attrakt filed a lawsuit against Warner Music Korea, accusing them of “tampering” — a term used in both sports and entertainment when a third party tries to lure someone away from an existing exclusive contract. In this case, that “someone” was Fifty Fifty.
According to Attrakt, Warner executives encouraged three members — Aran, Saena, and Sio — to ditch their contracts and jump ship. These artists reportedly attempted to break away through a legal loophole known as a provisional injunction in mid-2023.
Attrakt isn’t just throwing around empty accusations either. They claim to have audio recordings from meetings on May 13, 17, and June 6, 2023, where the plan to exit was discussed. They also say they’ve gathered legal evidence that shows Warner Music Korea, production company The Givers, and the ex-members were all in on it.
“We have obtained comprehensive legal evidence proving that Warner Music Korea, The Givers, and former Fifty Fifty members Aran, Saena and Sio colluded to breach their exclusive contracts and engaged in tampering activities.” — Attrakt
The agency didn’t hold back. In their statement, they called out Warner Music Korea as the “principal force behind this tampering,” accusing them of using financial pressure and corporate influence to snatch away artists.
“We will not succumb to the might of such corporate giants and are prepared to stand resolutely against these actions.” — Attrakt
But how did Warner allegedly get involved?
This is where it gets even more intense.
According to Dispatch, a well-known South Korean outlet, Ahn Sung-il, CEO of The Givers, allegedly told the members’ parents about his connections at Warner. He even name-dropped a CFO named Simon, claiming Simon had already agreed to sign the group.
“There’s a guy named Simon, the overall CFO of Warner Music Group. He was very supportive of me when I worked there,” Ahn reportedly said.
Whether or not that’s true is still up in the air. Warner Music Korea has denied involvement in any tampering. However, they did confirm that former executives had met with the members’ parents, which raises more questions than answers.
Where are the ex-members now?
Following the messy fallout, Aran, Saena, and Sio were officially removed from both Fifty Fifty and Attrakt. They’re now under Massive E&C, a subsidiary of IOK Company.
Meanwhile, the only original member left, Keena, has stayed loyal to Attrakt. She’s now joined by four new members — Chanelle Moon, Yewon, Hana, and Athena — who all debuted together on September 20, 2024.