'GMF' Organizer Faces 500 Million Won Damages Lawsuit...Billyblin States "Yuda Bin Should Take Responsibility for Dual Contract"

[Dispatch=Reporter Kim Ji-ho] MPMG, a company that produces events including the 'Grand Mint Festival' (hereinafter GMF), has been sued for damages totaling 510 million won.

The issue centers on allegations of double contract regarding You Da-bin. The claim is that while an exclusive contract with the original agency 'Billybin Music' was maintained, MPMG, which had been entrusted with management duties, concluded a separate exclusive contract.

You Da-bin Band is a five-member co-ed band centered around singer-songwriter You Da-bin. You Da-bin concluded a solo exclusive contract with Billybin Music from March 7, 2022 to March 7, 2025.

You Da-bin Band participated in the Mnet survival program 'Great Seoul Invasion' in 2022 and advanced to the finals. MPMG was the production company for this program and concluded a consignment contract with Billybin Music before the broadcast.

MPMG exclusively received consignment of You Da-bin Band's full management and agent rights for 18 months after the final episode aired. The consignment period officially ended in late March 2024.

However, Billybin Music stated that "MPMG concluded a separate exclusive contract with You Da-bin Band in April 2024, immediately after the official consignment period ended, without prior written consent from the original agency." This is pointed out as tampering and a double contract.

Billybin Music further claimed, "We suffered substantial property damages due to the contract type change without prior consultation and the subsequent exclusive contract conclusion," and "We have not received a single won in settlement payments for related activities."

Meanwhile, MPMG countered that Billybin Music's claims are not factual. Through an answer submitted to the Seoul Western District Court in September, the defendant denied the plaintiff's claims in full and requested dismissal of the lawsuit.

You Da-bin, the party in question regarding the tampering allegations, also issued a lengthy statement through SNS. In December of last year, You Da-bin stated, "Both the program appearance contract and the consignment contract were proceeded with after obtaining prior consent from Billybin."

You Da-bin also emphasized that the contract between You Da-bin Band and MPMG is a band exclusive contract. Solo activities are possible even after the contract is concluded. You Da-bin explained, "Other members are also continuing their activities."

You Da-bin added, "Even after March 2024, I conveyed the intention to fulfill the solo contract to Billybin," and "I have sufficient willingness to consult, and during meetings with Billybin I conveyed multiple times the opinion that I want to faithfully fulfill the contract."

Meanwhile, the oral argument date for the lawsuit has been set for 10:40 a.m. on January 28 of next year at Courtroom No. 418 of the Seoul Western District Court.

by. Jiho Kim