[Feature] Is Cultural Difference to Blame for EXO Kris Scandal?

Kris was so popular among Korean fans that he starred in “Running Man,” one of South Korea’s most popular variety show programs last year.

SEOUL, May 19 (Korea Bizwire) – Since Kris, member of EXO-M, the Chinese unit of EXO, staged a legal action against SM Entertainment last week, an endless stream of rumors and speculations have been flying around as to why Kris turned his back on his agency all of a sudden and how this affair will play out, especially in terms of EXO’s future activities in the longer term. 

One thing is certain: the other members of EXO-M are not in sympathy with Kris’ unexpected behavior, even criticizing Kris’ legal battle against the agency as a “betrayal of trust.” 

Many EXO-M fans in China, however, don’t seem to go along with the opinion of the remaining members of EXO. Since the “Kris Scandal” broke out, a considerable number of messages from Chinese fans, posted on China’s popular social network sites, has largely sided with Kris. According to text messages posted on Sina Weibo — China’s equivalent of Twitter — for example, a rising number of Chinese fans argued Kris is just “another” victim to SM Entertainment’s “harsh” treatment to their cherished star. 

There was a similar accident in this vein in 2009, when Han Geng, former Super Junior member, filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment. At that time, a statement released by Han Geng’s legal team claimed that Han, who happened to be also a Chinese member of Super Junior, was forced to do things against his own will, fined when he disobeyed the company rules, and even refused sick days off when he developed gastritis and kidney problems. 

The incident surrounding Han Geng apparently brought out and highlighted SM Entertainment’s arguably “military-barracks” culture affecting every single member of K-pop idols who include S.E.S., H.O.T., Shinhwa, BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior and Girls’ Generation who belong to household names in the global entertainment industry. 

In fact, Kris’ legal team also claimed that the agency considered him as an “object of control” or just “a cog in the whole machine.” And the local entertainment officials have agreed to a claim that strict control systems employed by the agency might have played a role in Kris’ litigation against SM.

As is the case with the military culture, where discipline is strictly enforced, some well-established entertainment agencies, like SM, are well known for applying these seemingly strict rules to many aspiring young entertainers. 

The epitome of this “discipline-focused” culture dominant in the local entertainment agencies is the “training camp” for K-pop idols. They reportedly provide intensified camp training for the aspiring idols from the early ages which might come as a “culture shock” to foreign-nationality members, like Kris and Han Geng. 

The young “would-be celebrities” have to give up their basic human urges: desire to eat, sleep and sex — to become successful idol stars in a relatively shorter period of time, according to industry observers. That’s why many idols are not allowed to have romantic relationships. No wonder their “secret dating” scenes which have been captured by the local media, have become the talk of the town more often than not. 

Kris’ legal team has also claimed that it is unfair and has no legal validity of the contract between him and the agency, given that the company apparently placed an undue burden on him through the contract which significantly restricted his basic human rights, choice of occupation and freedom of economic activities.

Kris and other aspiring idols had no choice but to accept “unfair” contract terms as they begin their training at the very early ages when “reasonable” decisions concerning the contract agreement would have been essentially impossible, argues the team responsible for Kris’ legal act this time.

However, critics say, life is a series of trade-offs and it should be noted that an overwhelming majority of young idols do their “jobs” without uttering any ostensible complaints regarding the seemingly “stringent discipline” culture and control systems. When allowed everything available for any “average” youth, they contend, how can it be possible to make such an extraordinary idol group able to perform perfect choreography on the stage? It is “no pain, no gain,” so to speak, according to critics. 

Whatever the case for or against the “Kris Affairs,” this situation is very similar to the case of Han Geng of Super Junior. As Han succeeded in his “boy group-turns-solo” entertainer in his homeland of China, after the legal spat with SM Entertainment and won the legal case, there is reportedly a strong possibility that Kris would follow the footsteps of Han Geng.

And the circumstances apparently seem to be in favor of Kris: Most Chinese fans seem to embrace or even support Kris’ decision to split with the agency and this was the same with Han Geng’s situation in the past. 

SM Entertainment is a powerhouse brand in the global entertainment industry. The big league agency can make many things possible armed with their powerful marketing resources. Upon becoming immensely popular, and thereby securing a huge base of supportive fans — on the back of the agency’s well-organized and sophisticated system, to raise an issue regarding “unfair and inhumane” conditions done to them by the agency has, to some extent, come as a somewhat bitterish taste for many K-pop fans the world over. 

Written by Jerry M. Kim (jerrykim@koreabizwire.com)

Contributed by Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)

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