The legal process between three EXO members, namely Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, with their former agency, SM Entertainment, regarding a contract dispute has officially entered the mediation stage.
The Seoul Eastern District Court, 15th Civil Division, will hold the first mediation hearing on Tuesday September 23, 2025 at 2:45 p.m. KST. This hearing is part of two related lawsuits.
SM Entertainment filed a lawsuit demanding the fulfillment of their contracts, while Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin (CBX) sued SM over profit sharing. The total value of the lawsuits is approximately 600 million won.
The court referred both cases to mediation on September 1, 2025. The conflict between the two parties began in June 2023, when CBX accused SM of unfair long-term contracts and opaque profit distribution.
SM countered by accusing the conflict of being triggered by ONEHUNDRED's "tampering" efforts. However, 19 days later, the two parties reached an agreement that seemingly resolved the issue. Baekhyun then established the independent agency INB100, followed by Chen and Xiumin.
Unfortunately, tensions arose again when INB100 became a subsidiary of ONEHUNDRED, sparking accusations of “indirect tampering.” In June of last year, INB100 filed a complaint regarding the implementation of the agreement, which ultimately sparked this legal battle.
ONEHUNDRED's chairman, Cha Ga Won, even held an emergency press conference, accusing SM of not adhering to the 5.5% distribution fee agreement while still demanding 10% of the revenue.
Today's mediation drew attention as it was the first step toward resolving the long-running conflict. Meanwhile, fans' attention was also focused on EXO's return as a full group, following Sehun's completion of his mandatory military service on September 20, 2025.
EXO is scheduled to make a comeback this December 2025, fueling excitement about the group's full lineup. How this mediation will impact EXO's future dynamics remains a big question.
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