In a severe blow to the rookie group FANTASY BOYS, six of the remaining members—Kang Minseo, Lee Hanbin, Hikaru, Hong Sungmin, Kim Gyurae, and Kaedan—have initiated immediate legal action against their agency, PocketDol Studio.
According to a report on November 19, 2025, the members have filed lawsuits seeking confirmation of the non-existence of their exclusive contracts, along with injunctions to suspend the contracts’ validity.
This action stems from a profound and irreparable breakdown of trust, rooted in alleged issues concerning payment, financial transparency, and severe operational neglect.
Core Allegations: Financial Mismanagement and Contractual Breach
The members’ legal complaint outlines specific and serious accusations that PocketDol Studio failed to uphold fundamental contractual and legal obligations:
- Fabricated Expenses and Non-Transparency: A primary issue cited was the agency’s failure to provide accurate and verifiable statements documenting payments and settlements. The complaint alleges that the settlement statements included items that were not actually executed or expenses that were not genuinely paid by the company, suggesting deliberate financial obfuscation.
- Phantom Employees: The contracts reportedly stipulated that substantial amounts for high labor costs would be deducted every quarter. However, the members claim that most of the employees corresponding to these costs did not actually exist or their activities could not be verified. This constitutes a severe allegation of financial impropriety and misappropriation of funds.
- Neglect of Non-Korean Members’ Status: Further compounding the operational negligence, the agency allegedly failed to process the timely extension of residency status for the non-Korean members (Hikaru and Kaedan). This failure caused restrictions on their activities and demonstrated a failure to ensure the basic legal working conditions for its artists.
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Operational Failure and Deterioration of Living Conditions
Beyond the contractual and financial issues, the members have highlighted the agency’s failure to manage basic operational requirements, directly impacting their welfare.
In a highly public incident earlier in the month, member Kang Minseo disclosed via a fan messaging platform that the electricity in the group’s dorm had been cut off due to unpaid bills.
This incident served as a dramatic confirmation of the agency’s financial and administrative instability.
These collective actions led the members to conclude that the agency had violated its obligation to ensure a safe and supportive working and living environment, leading to the irreparable breakdown of the relationship.
A Pattern of Legal Conflict and Group Instability
The legal challenges faced by FANTASY BOYS are unfortunately not isolated incidents but reflect a broader pattern of conflict under PocketDol Studio:
- Group Shrinkage: FANTASY BOYS was formed in 2023 through the survival program Fantasy Boys with an original lineup of 12 members. However, even before their official debut, the first-place winner, Yu Junwon, withdrew due to insurmountable conflicts with the agency over contractual terms. Following this, member K-Soul officially left the group in January 2025, reducing the active unit to ten members before this current legal action.
- PocketDol Studio’s Track Record: The agency has a notorious history of contractual disputes, extending to its labelmates. Nam Dohyon of BAE173 successfully sued to suspend his contract in 2023 and departed the group. Most recently, BAE173 member Doha also filed a similar lawsuit, indicating a systemic problem within PocketDol Studio’s management practices.
- The six FANTASY BOYS members followed a clear legal escalation timeline: first demanding rectification on September 30, sending a contract termination notice on October 28, and finally filing the lawsuits in November. With a majority of the remaining members now seeking termination, the future of FANTASY BOYS hangs in severe uncertainty.
Since six members have filed the lawsuit, the remaining members who are not named in the complaint are Hong Seongmin, Oh Hyeontae, and Lee Hanbin.
