The long-running legal dispute involving former FIFTY FIFTY members Saena, Sio and Aran has taken an unexpected turn after a South Korean court cancelled its scheduled first-instance verdict in a 13 billion KRW damages lawsuit.
The ruling, which had been expected on November 13, 2026, has now been postponed, with the court deciding to reopen proceedings and schedule another hearing for January 15, 2027.
According to reports published on November 11, the Seoul Central District Court’s 61st Civil Division decided to resume arguments in the case after approximately 1,061 days of legal proceedings.
The lawsuit was filed by FIFTY FIFTY’s agency, ATTRAKT, against the three former members and nine other defendants, seeking approximately 13 billion KRW (around 9.7 million USD) in damages.
The sudden cancellation has attracted considerable attention because the case was approaching its first major judicial conclusion.
However, the court has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for its decision to reopen the proceedings.
Background of FIFTY FIFTY’s Long-Running Legal Dispute
The controversy dates back to June 2023, when FIFTY FIFTY achieved international recognition through its viral hit song “Cupid.”
The track became a major success, helping the group enter the Billboard Hot 100 and establishing a remarkable milestone for a relatively new K-pop act.
However, tensions emerged when the members filed an application seeking to suspend the validity of their exclusive contracts with ATTRAKT on June 19, 2023.
The dispute became public later that month, creating widespread discussion throughout the entertainment industry.
During the same period, ATTRAKT claimed that an external party had approached the members and attempted to encourage them to violate their exclusive contracts.
The agency also maintained that it wanted to reconcile with the artists and repeatedly expressed its willingness to resume their activities.
The former members, however, continued their legal proceedings.
In August 2023, they released handwritten letters explaining their position and expressing their hope that the dispute would lead to changes in practices they considered unfair in their relationship with the agency.
The Seoul Central District Court’s 50th Civil Division subsequently rejected their application to suspend the exclusive contracts.
The court stated that it was difficult to establish that ATTRAKT had violated its obligation to provide settlement information.
It also found that the allegations concerning the agency’s responsibility for the members’ health and well-being had not been sufficiently substantiated.
Despite the ruling, Saena, Sio and Aran continued to challenge aspects of the dispute.
They maintained that important questions involving revenue settlements, production expenses and the agency’s financial management required further examination in the main lawsuit.
Former Members File Counterclaim as ATTRAKT Pursues Damages
The three former members also filed a counterclaim against ATTRAKT in connection with the 13 billion KRW damages lawsuit.
Their legal representatives explained that the purpose was not simply to recover allegedly unpaid settlement amounts but to establish a clear record of expenses associated with their previous entertainment activities.
They argued that examining the financial records was necessary before determining whether ATTRAKT’s substantial damages claim was justified.
The former members also maintained that they had not received transparent settlement statements from the agency.
Meanwhile, ATTRAKT has continued pursuing legal action against several parties connected to the dispute, including the former members, their parents, The Givers CEO Ahn Sung Il and director Baek Jin Sil.
In a separate legal development, ATTRAKT previously secured a partial victory in its damages lawsuit against The Givers and Ahn Sung Il.
The Seoul Central District Court’s 33rd Civil Division ordered the company and Ahn to jointly pay ATTRAKT 499.5 million KRW in damages.
The agency is also pursuing a separate lawsuit seeking approximately 20 billion KRW from Warner Music Korea and Clayton Jin, also known as Jin Seung Young.
With the November 13 verdict cancelled, the 13 billion KRW case will now continue into 2027.
The next hearing, scheduled for January 15, will provide another opportunity for the court to examine the competing arguments and financial questions surrounding the dispute.
The outcome could have wider implications for the K-pop industry, particularly regarding contractual disputes, alleged third-party interference and financial responsibilities between entertainment agencies and artists.
For now, the legal battle remains unresolved, leaving both sides awaiting the next stage of the proceedings.
