Amid the EXO-CBX revenue distribution dispute, SM Entertainment filed for a provisional seizure of assets worth about KRW 2.6 billion belonging to the three members.

(Seoul, 13th) South Korean entertainment agency SM Entertainment has filed provisional seizure applications against assets owned by EXO subunit CBX members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, reigniting public attention over their ongoing contractual dispute.

The legal action aims to secure approximately 10% of the members’ individual activity revenues, which SM claims remain unpaid under their settlement agreement.

According to reports, SM filed the applications on the 9th and 10th. The assets subject to provisional seizure include:

• Chen’s jeonse (lease deposit) claim
• Baekhyun’s apartment in Guri, Gyeonggi Province
• Xiumin’s apartment in Hannam-dong, Seoul

The total amount sought is approximately KRW 2.6 billion.

Legal experts clarify that a provisional seizure is not a confiscation, but a court-approved preservation measure intended to prevent asset disposal before a final ruling is reached.

The dispute dates back to June 2023, when CBX members sought contract termination, citing incomplete settlement data and excessively long exclusive contracts. A subsequent agreement allowed SM to manage EXO’s group activities, while individual activities would be handled by INB100, with 10% of individual revenue payable to SM.

In June 2024, CBX alleged that SM failed to pay a promised 5.5% distribution fee for music distribution to INB100, leading them to withhold the 10% revenue share. SM then filed a lawsuit seeking enforcement of the exclusive contract, while CBX countersued alleging fraud. The criminal complaint was later dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

Industry observers suggest the case may become a significant reference point regarding long-term contracts and revenue transparency within the Korean entertainment sector.