EXO's CBX goes to court to break with its agency

Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin of the boy band EXO have asked a court to suspend their exclusive contracts with their agency, INB100.

The Seoul Central District Court holds its first hearing in the case on Monday. The three perform together as CBX, EXO's first subunit. The trio wants the contracts frozen while their financial dispute with the agency is resolved.

Baekhyun set up INB100 in June 2023 after breaking away from SM Entertainment. The label was folded into One Hundred Label, headed by Cha Ga-won, in May 2024.

The trio notified Cha's side in April that they were terminating their contracts over unpaid settlements, the artists' share of the revenue their work generates. The company refused to accept the notice, and the three turned to the courts.

Separately, Cha was indicted on Aug. 25 on fraud charges involving some 30 billion won ($22.3 million) and remains in detention. The first hearing in that case is set for Oct. 13.

Cha, who previously chaired a real estate development company, co-founded One Hundred Label with the rapper MC Mong in 2023. The two fell out, and Cha has run the company alone since MC Mong left in July 2025.

Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi, boy band The Boyz, girl group Viviz and the broadcaster Kim Dae-ho have all served notice that they are ending their exclusive contracts with One Hundred Label or its subsidiaries. Each cited unpaid settlements.

BY HAN YOUNG-HYE [[email protected]]