Multiple artists are in the process of terminating their exclusive contracts with Big Planet Made (BPM Entertainment) and its subsidiary label ONE HUNDRED.
Who Is Leaving
The wave of exits follows an escalating pattern. SHINee's Taemin was the first to recently terminate his contract with BPM back in February 2026, subsequently announcing a fresh start with Galaxy Corporation, the agency of G-Dragon. At the time, Taemin was able to exit without legal dispute due to what was described as serious negligence on the part of BPM CEO Cha Ga-won.
9 out of 10 members of the boy group The Boyz, signed under the ONE HUNDRED label, followed by serving their own notice of contract termination. CEO Cha has pushed back against the move, but the grounds for termination are described as overwhelmingly clear. The group has hired the same law firm that worked with Taemin.
Most recently, girl group VIVIZ (consisting of members Eunha, SinB, and Umji), along with solo artists Lee Mu-jin and B.O, have also notified BPM of their intent to terminate their exclusive contracts. The stated reasons are serious breaches of contract and a complete breakdown of trust. The artists reportedly made efforts to receive satisfactory explanations from CEO Cha, but were ultimately unable to restore the working relationship.
Why They Are Leaving
The departures stem from a severe financial collapse across CEO Cha Ga-won's labels. BIG PLANET MADE Entertainment, ONE HUNDRED, and INB100 are all reported to be in a state of complete capital impairment — meaning liabilities have fully wiped out assets — with hundreds of billions of Korean won in unpaid settlements and outstanding payments accumulated across the companies.
Since the third quarter of last year, artists have not received their settlement payments. Vendors and staff are also owed several billion won in unpaid fees, making it effectively impossible to support album production or artist activities going forward. Even basic vehicle support for artists has been cut off, with some reportedly using their own personal cars to attend scheduled activities.
The situation with The Boyz is particularly striking. CEO Cha is reported to have withdrawn approximately 150 million Korean won from the members' dormitory deposit funds for personal use. Ahead of a scheduled three-day concert at Seoul's KSPO Dome from April 24 to 26, the group has no rehearsal space provided by the agency and has been paying out of pocket to rent practice facilities. Members are also reportedly covering numerous staff costs themselves. Taemin is said to have similarly paid staff fees from his own funds before his departure.
The Company Response
BPM issued a statement saying that no final conclusion has been reached regarding the contract terminations of VIVIZ, Lee Mu-jin, and B.O, and that the company is doing its best to support normal activities for its artists. ONE HUNDRED did not respond to requests for comment.
Despite CEO Cha's resistance to accepting the termination notices, industry watchers say the case for the artists is strong given that the companies' inability to provide even the most basic support is well documented.
With The Boyz, VIVIZ, Lee Mu-jin, and B.O all in the process of exiting, and continuously more news being reported of unpaid businesses, the labels led by CEO Cha Ga-won are widely considered to have functionally collapsed. Further departures from remaining artists are expected as the situation continues to deteriorate.