Japanese Trainee Who Fled After Music Video Shoots Caught with Dual Contracts; 57.43 Million Won in Losses

A Japanese idol trainee who had already filmed a music video left the company without permission two months before Debut. After receiving a complaint from the agency, the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul placed the trainee, identified as A, under travel ban for fraud charges.

In December last year, A, who was set to be a member of a six-member boy group, disappeared after leaving a message stating that “the trust between us had been broken.” The group eventually debuted as a five-member unit and continues to operate in this format to this day.

The agency took legal action because A’s dual contracts were uncovered. It was confirmed that A was already under contract with another entertainment company at the time of signing her exclusive deal. The agency claimed, “A cut off contact and vanished in the same manner at her previous company” and added that she has repeatedly fled to Japan after securing substantial investments from domestic agencies just before starting official activities.

The direct financial loss resulting from this incident amounts to 57.43 million won. This figure includes training costs, song production expenses, music video shooting fees, accommodation rental, and food expenses. The agency suggested that A may have exploited the fact that smaller agencies often hesitate to take legal action due to the burden of litigation costs.

The police believe A is still in South Korea and are focusing on locating her precisely.

Contract violations by foreign trainees have long been identified as a persistent risk in the entertainment industry. As of the end of 2024, out of 963 trainees under domestic agencies, 42 were of foreign nationality. Although the global expansion of K-pop has led to an increase in hiring foreign members, smaller agencies face growing financial pressures due to the challenges of managing their residency status and establishing adequate legal protection systems.