KARA Members Sue Agency

Kara /Courtesy of DSP Media

Three members of the five-strong girl band Kara who are in a dispute with their agency DSP Media filed a lawsuit for annulment of their exclusive contract with the agency. The Seoul Central District Court on Monday said Han Seung-yeon, Nicole Jung and Kang Ji-young are asking the court to confirm the dissolution of the contract.

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The three say that DSP Media has been unable to provide them with professional management and support because its CEO has been hospitalized since a stroke in March last year. It also unilaterally singed a contract with a Japanese agency to manage them and has never explained the particulars, they add.

They are also unhappy about payment, saying when profits from selling their music were W410 million (US$1=W1,123) in the first half of last year, DSP Media deducted W390 million for covering overhead costs, and each member was paid a mere W860,000. They say this is tantamount to embezzlement.

Earlier on Jan. 19, the three announced they were terminating their contract, saying the agency forced them to perform against their will, insulted their character and signed various contracts on their behalf without explaining the details. There have since been attempts at reconciliation, but to no avail.

However, all five members of Kara agreed to perform all pre-scheduled engagements on Jan. 27, and resumed shooting TV Tokyo Drama "Urakara".