FIFTY FIFTY agency found guilty in defamation lawsuit against SBS program.

A report by Herald Economy on May 25 reveals that Jeon Hong Joon, CEO of ATTRAKT and the producer behind FIFTY FIFTY, has faced a setback in his civil defamation lawsuit against the producers of the SBS investigative program ‘Unanswered Questions’. The court determined that the 2023 airing, which delved into the group’s contractual disagreements with its agency, did not disseminate any false or defamatory claims.

The Seoul Southern District Court dismissed Jeon’s request for around USD 220,000 in damages, stating that the content was rooted in factual information or reasonable interpretations. Additionally, the court mandated ATTRAKT to cover the total legal fees.

The contentious episode, dubbed ‘Billboard and Girl Groups – Who Clipped Their Wings?’, aired in August 2023 and examined the sudden collapse of relationships between FIFTY FIFTY and ATTRAKT, despite the group achieving unprecedented global success. Their popular single ‘Cupid’ remained on the Billboard Hot 100 for over 21 weeks.

The broadcast raised alarms regarding financial transparency within ATTRAKT and included interviews with former employees and the parents of the members, who reported harsh internal practices and emotional strain. Allegations surfaced that food brought by parents was discarded and that there was a lack of leadership during performance assessments.

While ATTRAKT denied these allegations, labeling them as untrue, the court disagreed. It confirmed that the music revenue was absent from internal settlement documents—a fact later acknowledged by the agency—and asserted that the program was supported by analyses from tax experts, business academics, and verified government data.

The court further dismissed the agency’s assertion that the segment concerning food disposal was inaccurate, referencing consistent testimonials from family members. It highlighted that the production team had made over ten requests for interviews with Jeon, all of which were turned down.

“Lack of comprehensive fairness or balance in a broadcast does not inherently equate to defamation,” the court remarked in its ruling.

In March 2024, the Korea Communications Standards Commission cautioned ‘Unanswered Questions’ following upwards of 1,100 viewer complaints, although the broadcast faced no legal repercussions.

Following the dispute, only Keena has rejoined ATTRAKT, while the remaining three original members have signed with different agencies. The agency has since reorganized FIFTY FIFTY into a new five-member formation.

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