EXO-CBX Notifies INB100 of Contract Termination Amid Massive Unpaid Settlements

EXO members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin (CBX) have notified their agency, INB100, of the termination of their exclusive contracts following allegations of unpaid settlements and internal financial mismanagement. The move follows the group’s demands for an explanation regarding contract violations, which received no satisfactory response from leadership.

Key Facts

• In late March, CBX sent a certification of contents to INB100 CEO Cha Ga-won demanding transparency regarding unpaid settlement fees and contract violations.
• After waiting approximately two weeks for an official response, the members moved to terminate their contracts.
• Unpaid settlements owed to the three artists are estimated at billions of won (over $750,000 USD per billion won).
• INB100, founded by Baekhyun in January 2024, became a subsidiary of One Hundred—co-founded by Cha Ga-won and MC Mong—in May 2024.
• CEO Cha Ga-won allegedly secured hundreds of billions of won (hundreds of millions of USD) in advance payments using CBX’s intellectual property, despite the company reportedly being in total capital impairment.
• Financial instability has hindered artist activities, with partner companies and staff reporting unpaid costs.

Key Terms

• Certification of Contents: A formal document providing legal proof of a notification's contents and delivery date.
• Capital Impairment: A financial state where total equity is less than capital stock value, indicating severe financial distress.
• CBX IP: Intellectual Property associated with Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, used to secure large-scale contracts and advance payments.

Key Quote

"The unpaid settlement money for Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin was also found to amount to billions of won. In addition, costs were not paid to partner companies and staff, putting Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin in a situation where normal activities were difficult." — The Fact / Daum

Next

• Legal action is expected from third-party partners; a video production company previously signaled legal proceedings over unpaid balances for Xiumin's music video on March 19.
• Further details regarding the legal status of the members' contracts and future activities are anticipated following the formal termination notice.