Are The SM Entertainment Rumours True? Options

[Angelaaa]

r the sm rumours true? i read sumwhere that if a singer signed under sm makes like a mistake in a perf or jus doesnt do good enuff that they scream and beat u...and they FORCE u to hav plastic surgery if ur not good looking enuff..im not tryna put anything against sm but yea..and i also heard that lee soo man has been in jail b4 becuz of that (???) im jus wondering cuz my sis mite audition and i mite even audition too...im jus relly scared (lol should i be? and i would be relly nervous too...) jus wana kno the truth..

[Love... HEROINE ...]

no proof; all just rumors so far.
they can't force you to have plastic surgery,
but if you're ugly, then yeah, they'll persuade you,
IE, "if you don't go under the knife we'll drop you."
and yeah, managers have been known to hit their artists if they mess up.
but regardless, if i was to join SM, i wouldn't care.
if i had to get slapped around to be instantly popular,
psh, the ends justify the means, IMO.

others will say you're better off in another label,
like the one Hyori is in (forgot the name), since they treat
their artists better.

but yeah. rumors. half-truths. maybe facts. who knows.
anti-fans of SM will tell you one thing, realists will tell you another.

This post has been edited by Love... HEROINE (Ricca): Sep 3 2006 12 28 AM

[pickledtink]

are you serious?
even persuading someone to get plastic surgery is bad.
that`s surprising..and i was gonna go tryout for the america auditions

[Lucky_Doraemon]

Like all rumours we'll never know if they're true or not. Artists wouldn't speak publicly about these things since SM are very influential within the entertainment industry. But there have been cases about reasons for artists leaving SM one their contract expired, like Fly to the Sky, Shinhwa and why H.O.T broke up because of the unfair treament among them.

[diana©]

Ack, I don't know what to believe anymore!

READ ONLY IF YOU HAVE TIME.
credits to: SJ:forever

"Okay - here's how the whole story goes... Lee Soo Man is the head producer - he's basically in charge of everything that goes on in SM... (SM used to stand for Soo Man but it's something else now..I forget...Star something...) He's like..completely horrible!

I mean, personally, I have nothing against SM the label, it's more like..the people who run it.

There's a saying in Korea that states: "If you don't make it with SM then you can't make it anywhere." It's actually half true. The reason Shinhwa broke away from SM is that they couldn't stand not being able to participate in recording their album (like writing songs, being more active in the whole process, not being controlled), and the only reason why they're still doing fine is that their fanbase is HUGE and the fans are VERY supportive of their split from SM. Shinhwa was fed up with their songs being controlled, and fed up with being hit and bullied by SM managers. -__-;;

As for HOT not getting back together, it's really crappy. Moon HeeJun from HOT went solo, as you may know, and after his first album, they withdrew funding from him and decided to focus on the "hotter, newer stars" like DBSK and BoA. Basically, he was left on the back burner and left to fend for himself. He released his later albums from money in his own pocket and donations from loyal fans. Awww...

Basically, when you get old/get less popular in SM, they just leave you to rot. They'll discard you like an old sock.

SM controls your life - when you sign on, you're basically signing away your soul. When DBSK was first formed, Soo Man gave the order to put the boys on a water diet (they basically starved the boys to the extreme) to make their faces slimmer so that they look better in pictures. They often try to get artists to get plastic surgery in order to boost their appearances. No joke. SM goes for looks first, then talent. (They got lucky with DBSK - looks AND talent.)

Rumor has it (and I'm pretty sure it's been confirmed, at least, according to my sources...) that SM hits/beats their artists whenever they make a mistake, and often they are driven to sickness by exhaustion and fatigue. Remember when Micky/Yoochun was in the hospital with apendicitis? Yah..there you go...

The probably only exception to the abuse is BoA, SM's favored artist, of whom I've heard indirectly from her coordinators that she's really stuck-up and and really bossy. Hence, I do not like her (I never did.) - sorry BoA fans! (By all means keep liking her if you do!)

When the whole scare that DBSK was going to be rotated came around (meaning winter-spring time this year), did you see the members cry at the perf.s and such? Well, I believe they were screamed at, then hit around, and they were banned from going to any press conferences. They were split up (put into different rooms and such) and they weren't allowed to discuss anything regarding it. I believe if they were going to rotate, they had announced that Jaejoong and Yoochun would be the first to leave because they "cause so much trouble".

If the fans did not stage the boycott of SM goods, I believe they really would have rotated DBSK. Plus the fact that Changmin is still a minor and their parents can still sue SM under their contract.

So...if SM is so horrible..why would you sign on under it?

Because, it gives you FAME. SM is RUTHLESS when it comes to making it to the top, and you are almost guaranteed some sort of fame. Secondly, THEY PAY FOR YOUR COLLEGE. They give you all these opportunities that are probably pretty good.

...I believe (I remember reading this) an average SM group like DBSK makes around 3 CENTS or something per album/single they sell. That split 5 ways is less than 1 cent per member. Yah - in the end, it may add up, but really, SM just sucks out the profit. It's a money making machine in the entertainment business. SOO MAN TAKES MOST OF THE PROFITS HIMSELF - HE IS LIKE...ONE OF THE RICHEST MEN IN KOREA.

Basically...Lee Soo Man is running this company that controls everything that goes on in their artists' lives. Although he's NOT THE PRESIDENT, he has the MOST POWER. Don't ask me how that works...I'm not sure... -__-;;; Even the president resigned this year due to everything that's been going on. Basically...I CAN'T STAND LEE SOO MAN. He deserves...really bad things to happen to him. -__-;;;



QUOTE
1. what do you mean by being rotated?? do you mean breaking them up??
What happened was...if you look at other SM groups, there usually is one or two lead singer(s) and the rest are rappers (those who can't sing as well but look pretty) or back-up singers. When DBSK was formed, they put 5 would-be "lead singers" (like - if they were all in different groups, they would all be the lead singers) together, and of course, it was very successful. HOWEVER - here's where the rotation part comes in. When SM was really gunning for their girl group SES (remember them? with Shoo, Eugene, and Bada), SM took them to Japan and China to gain more ground in the Asian music industry. But what happened was that when they left Korea, a new girl group was debuted under another company...you probably have heard of them too...FINKL (with Hyori, etc.) After the whole fiasco of FinkL becoming very popular in Korea and sharing SES's level of success (SES fans shifted to FinkL for the time being when they went to Japan and China), SM vowed to never have that happen again - to always have their aritsts be #1 in Korea. So what did they do? They had this crazy idea to make DBSK a rotating group. That means when DBSK goes to Japan/China/other places, one or two members will be taken out to work with other groups/on solo projects in Korea, as to maintain DBSK popularity in Korea and eliminate rival groups. The original 5 would basically not perform with each other anymore - there would be like 3 or so originals, and 2 or so rotated members. The original members would all be rotated in and out in between solo projects and other group projects. Crazy - yes I know - but true. SM is one monopoly on the Korean music market.

2. what do they mean about Hiro and Micky causing trouble?? are they rebellious towards the company?? and if so, who wouldn't be...
Jaejoong/Hero/Hiro: They have fanmeetings/signings yah? Well, apparently there were instances where there were LONG lines to meet DBSK. There were instances where there are 5 separate lines - one for each member. Well, one time, there was NO ONE in JAEJOONG'S LINE (T_T awww...I so would have gone in that line if I saw that!) and the managers who were coordinating the event were like..to fans in the other lines.. "do you want to get into this line?" and they would be like...NO! (GOSH! THEY'RE SO MEAN/RUDE! T_T) And it made Jaejoong really sad. The other members encouraged fans to get into Jaejoong's line, but apparently it didn't work. SM was beginning to believe Jaejoong was getting less popular, so they wanted him to work on other projects first - as a result.

Yoochun/Micky: ...I don't know if you noticed this, but around the time they were announcing the rotation, he began to cry/breaking down during performances (which, I heard, he got hit for T_T) and in SM's words... "causing trouble". Therefore, they wanted to remove him from DBSK first also.

Yes - I agree - I would be rebellious too..except..you get punished for doing so...like..being starved and getting beaten. -___-;;

3. by the way how did Shinhwa manage to get out of SM??
What happened was...Shinhwa decided to switch entertainment companies because they had enough with SM's controlling behavior (this was like..unheard of! Sm doesn't allow their artists to switch companies freely, especially if they are as popular as Shinhwa... Shinhwa = money in SM's eyes). They decided to move to Good! Entertainment, a brand new company with better management. SM couldn't FORCE them to stay, because Shinhwa's contracts had expired anyways (SM was seeking to renew, Shinhwa was seeking to move companies ASAP!). So, what did SM do? They sued Shinhwa for a bunch of stuff, and they claimed that if Shinhwa was to move companies, they can't use the name SHINHWA because of copyright issues. Therefore, there was a battle so to speak in court, and Shinhwa ended up winning. They retained their trademark name and moved to Good! Entertainment. Most artists who move struggle because SM makes it their duty to make sure they are crushed by SM artists. But knowing Shinhwa, they already had a HUGE fanbase that was more than supportive of the move. They staged a movement where when their 7th album came out this past year, NO ONE was to post downloads in order to encourage people to buy it, and many fans bought more than one copy of it. =)

Side note: I'd say SM's biggest "rival" company is YG Entertainment - which manages artists such as Se7en, 1TYM, Taebin, etc. I dunno - just my opinion. Hence, the whole...Se7en's in Japan! DBSK must be in Japan too! thing...



THEN It was kimtaitai's message on Abaka that really got me she wrote:
QUOTE
Hi~ I'm a current member of clubH.O.T,
and am a fan of the now broken up group, H.O.T. ^^

These days the group DBSK have been performing a lot
and have caught my attention.
Not only that, I heard that one of the DBSK members was a
very big male fan of H.O.T., and thats how I first started to
learn more about DBSK

As I watch the way they act and their performance,
I couldn't help but to think that they are very simliar
to H.O.T when they first started

H.O.T is seriously the god's to our generation,
so for people that were born around 82, 83, etc.
No one probably understand what they meant to us...

After Seotaiji and boys broke up, H.O.T. saved the
kpop music scene that was completely dying out.

All the teenagers were pulled into H.O.T.,
and within a year of their debut they received the top music award.
Out of all the major awards that H.O.T received, there must be awards
from at least 10 different music/television companies

When I see DBSK right now, the past H.O.T. fills my mind.
I was a freshman in high school when H.O.T. first debuted.
Now I am 22, and even today, when I go to performances or
concerts, I am looked as a young girl ^^

I heard that the majority of DBSK fans are junior high students,
and although many people say that they are young fans,
we were exactly like that too.

Whenever people saw us they called us H.O.T fanatics.
But then what about now? Even after 8-9 years
we are still here watching over them.

We hope that all the DBSK fans follow in our footsteps ^^

Liking H.O.T. for about 9 years,
I would like to give a little heads up and warnings about the company SM

I am someone that had a voice within the H.O.T fan club.

So I know a little more about the company SM, than most fans or normal people

At this moment, many H.O.T. fans have ventured out ^^
There are some that have become stars, others that became famous peoples' coordis,
and even some that have been hired into SM

Through these people we have learned that,
what we believed to be unfair treatment by SM, in reality, was very much true

SM claimed that the 2nd H.O.T. was blackbeat, but after their failure
they tried once again, and that group is DBSK

Silently leading the group with wit and talent, YoungWoong JaeJoong.
He is like MoonHeeJun.

Leader in dance, with the aura of a tough guy, but sometimes very cute, UKnowYunHo.
He is like JangWooHyuk.

Lived in the states, and able to speak English, very charismatic and outgoing, MickyYooChun.
He is like Tony.

With looks that can be looked as almost femine, and the image where you want to take care of him, ChoiKangChangMin.
He is like Kangta.

Looks that can be looked as average, but the type of person that the more you see the more you like, XiahJunSu.
He is like LeeJaeWon.

Two group that really have a lot in common, DBSK and H.O.T.
Maybe that's why, but we H.O.T. fans are genuinely scared that
the DBSK fans will have to face the hurt and dissapointing ordeals we had to go through.
Especially because all of you are so young.

Cassiopia fans...

SM is honestly a dangerous place.
As you like DBSK more I am sure that your hatred for SM will only grow

The first time H.O.T. began to get battered by LeeSooMan was during the beginning of their 3rd album
I'm not sure if you heard their 2nd album song, "Heng Bok"
That is the song H.O.T. received the DaeSang award,
and the album after that for every little mistake, they were hurt.

At that time, I believed that no matter what, it was merely just rumors
Slowly, everything I believed were rumors, were slowly turning into realities

By any chance do you know of Andy of ShinHwa's incident?
For awhile he was on stage wearing a mask wasnt he?
SM said some unbelievable stuff saying that he ran into something
or that JunJin fell while taking a shower.

Everyone continously told us different thigns.
The important factor is that they ran into something or fell,
but why was only his mouth hurt? How come there were no signs of anything near their forehead or nose or any other facial part?

A few days before, Andy went into the SM building, and when he came out
he was wearing a mask, which many fans noticed.
Honestly, at that time I didn't believe it.

After JTL left SM, even after they released their album,
they weren't able to properly perform for a good 2 years.

Their schedules continously got mysteriously cancelled,
and on cable t.v. their music video was not even showed ONCE.

That wast the famous SM-JTL boycott.
Boycott...

SM went to every television company and threatened that
in the case they brought JTL onto their broadcasting list, SM would pull out all their singers from that company

Many fans called JTL's company "YeJun Media" and asked what was happening,
but even from there they did not know.

This is a famous event,
It was when MoonHeeJun's 2nd album was supposed to come out

Fans were sleeping in front of HeeJun's house,
when HeeJun's mother came out and began to cry like no tomorrow.

She was begging to the fans to save HeeJun...
"Please save my HeeJun..."

HeeJun's first album sold 600,000 copies.
But SM said, "Merely 600,000?!"

They said they didn't want to invest in his 2nd album.
So for HeeJun's 2nd album, his music video, and jacket pictures...
he poured out his own money and savings.

Everyone.
Buy their album. That is helping DBSk.

Whenever H.O.T albums came out, we fans bought AT LEAST 2 copies.
That's the only reason whenever a new album came out they were able to surpass 1 million album sales.

And for that fact only...
thats the only reason the members were able to collect a little bit of money.

H.O.T. boys...
for every album they received approximiately 2 cents.

After Boa released her first alubm,
she received 50 cents per album.

For five people if it's 2 cent, that means its not even a quarter cent per person.

Then you might ask...

"What about the commercials and photo albums, and all the other side things H.O.T did?"

To keep it simple,
the only money H.O.T members make is through album sales.

Any commercials, and any shows, anything,
all that money goes to SM.
So its basically an unjust contract, a slave contract.

We heard that the contract between DBSK and SM is immense,
but thats not always a good thing.

When one leaves SM you must pay a fee that is much higher htan the contract,
and basically its to stop singers from leaving
Not only that they will take out a percentage of one's profits if one leaves.

Do you think the term "slave contract" came out of nowhere??
DBSK right now...they are probably having a really hard time.

Do you all know this?
The president of SM isn't LeeSooMan but, KimKyungWook.

To put it in lamen terms...

Although on paper KimKyungWook is the president,
the person that makes all the decisions is LeeSooMan.

The reason,

SM has done a lot of illegal things.
And if those acts are caught, someone needs to be blamed.

So LeeSooMan screws up,
and KimKyungWook takes the blame.

If you look at it KimKyungWoo is a slave too. An SM slave.

H.O.T.'s old manager is currently working for a very famous company.

That person once said that H.O.T. are kids he truely feels sorry for,
and so they were kids that he wanted to save.

That person tried to take H.O.T. out of SM, but got caught by LeeSooMan
and was immediately fired. Right now he is working at SIDUS and is producing the group G.O.D.

That is the reason LeeSooMan hates G.O.D. so much.
So much to the point that any radio show SM singers host,
he makes it clear he doesnt want to hear them putting on G.O.D. songs.

Even though slave contract, unjust contracts are against the law,
LeeSooMan is living quite fine.

He is truely a rich man. Someone with so much money it is unbelievable.
Although he waste a lot of money, he always has more.

We raised SM
and then we were stepped on by SM and died.

All the money that came in from H.O.T was invested into BoA
and all the money they invested in BoA is being currently reearned.

But now H.O.T memebers have encountered so many scars,
and they are slowly being forgotten by people.

Along with Club H.O.T who set records as a fan club.

We all are being forogtten by people.

All of you will get older with DBSK.
We were the same.

We used to say that "we're aging together,"
and these days those words sound so sad

As time goes feelings will be stronger,
and we sincerely hope that DBSK doesn't endure the same scars from SM, as H.O.T. had.
Don't take the same hurt as we did.

Within DBSK, create an awesome fan culture.

With every childless statement, the fan image is slowly ruined.

Become fans that think about what you say,
when announcing you are their fans.

Don't ever be faltered by any rumors, and always trust the member.
Singers will never betray their fans.

Please don't do things that they dont like.
You shouldn't ever make your favorite singer feel disappointedi n you.

If you are going to believe this and that, or just move on to someone else,
then don't like them from the start.
It will only be scars upon that singer/group.

As you grow older, even if you find a boyfriend
don't ever forget that you are DBSK fans.

At first it may just be a fantasy for you
but as time passes and as you grow older
you will realize that they mean a lot more to you than you know

In your heart, you will never forget your younger days
when you were their fans...

please make sure it is only memories that you will not regret... "

It's up to you guys if you want to believe this. I must admit that after reading this, I lost some of my respect for SM Entertainment. They are rumors but I can't help but believe that there are some facts in there.

[WinterParade]

^If that really is all true, my heart breaks for all the artists who had to endure so much suffering from SM. I don't want to entirely believe it but I still do feel very sorry for SM artists, especially the boy bands. It's kind of hard with this situation. A boycott could have helped but fans don't want to cause mroe trouble for their favourite artists from SM.

[diana©]

Nicely said, WinterParade! I agree...
I won't deny that I'm worried about what's going on inside SM Entertainment...
Frankly, I don't see WHY they need to beat up their artists. Like that's going somewhere... >.<

[xiah lover]

omg i dont know what to say but omg this ting make me hate sm town and i cant belive how they could do this to Micky ´´Yoochun/Micky: ...I don't know if you noticed this, but around the time they were announcing the rotation, he began to cry/breaking down during performances (which, I heard, he got hit for T_T) and in SM's words... "causing trouble". Therefore, they wanted to remove him from DBSK first also´´
that is like having no heart and what they did with H.O.T but i LOve what Shiniwa did with sm town they rocked

HATE SM TOWN !!!!

[katherinekwokhk]

it sounds kinda true...but we cant be 100% sure though...but if it is true, lucky wif DBSK!!! SM sounds strict...

[5566fan]

I felt really sad when I read that post...being a new DBSK fan (after watching last week's X-man) it made me just want to go back to my hometown and just buy each DBSK's album...I really hope those rumours are not true...I really can't imagine what they had or would go through...especially since Super Junior is with SM as well...i mean, 3 cents per album to be split between 5 members...that's just sad and rip-off...

Hope Lee Soo Man would be caught soon and hope all of SM Town's stars will not endure torture anymore!!!

[fx8uin]

here's a clip of andy and minwoo retelling the story of how they SHINHWA almost broke up....the reason was harsh or rigid rules from their management when they were first just starting out...i guess this would relate to SM entertainment.....

in here...they relate one scene where they have to kneel down for 2 hours.....tsk tsk tsk...minwoo said after being yelled out by their management for being late for practice after a night of drinking with eric...the management also asked them to quit (MINWOO and ERIC)...eric got mad prompting him to say "he quit"....so thus minwoo....their other members who were on time for practice were already being punished...andy cried when he thought eric and minwoo decided to quit...but then again he said he cried from the pain of kneeling for 2 hrs....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7xlraWvwTo

for those who need english subs..here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXujU1GmzxE

This post has been edited by fx8uin: Oct 14 2006 9 50 AM

[mzdeviL]

OMG! that's horrible! If what diana© posted is really true, then I have to admit that I've lost all respect for SM's management I really pity those artists whom were/are under the company.

This post has been edited by dark'L'angel: Oct 14 2006 8 50 PM

[Gingitsunespirit]

So does this mean sm artists are actually poor? if they only get like .5 cent for each album sold, and say they sell 50,000 copies at 20 us dollars each...they make like...5,000...five thousand dollars!!
basically the only thing they gain is fame.

[CLAN]

this is ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
they aren't fair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
why is it only BoA that get a lot from SM?????????
So...
how about the other girl??besides BoA...r they hit the girl too????like CSJH,Go Ara,????
hikshiks poor TVXQ

[ginger--snaps]

I've read that article before! I feel bad for DBSK! Only make money by getting 3 cents an album?! That's just totally unfair. SM Entertainment has no right of hitting the singers!

[ANGELIC_B~]

Woah~~ I had always assumed SM was like sucha good company since so many famous artists camne from there!! And now I read this...WAhh!! What is wrong with them..?? But then again, if they are really being starved and beat, why dont they sue them?? God...scarry. It's not worth it in my opinion to get beat and starved for fame...I remember watching JJ's auditions for SM on youtube and woah...he looks so different!! Wonder if SM had anything to do with that...

[§weetacrimony♥]

yeah.. i really don't get why the artists can't file for lawsuits, they would obviously win if these rumors are true and they're like being abused. why bother to stay under such a terrible company? i'm sure they would sell as much or more if they switch companies because they still have talent and a lot of fans that would support them.
some of these things are like unbelievable though.. like being paid in cents? can't believe it until there's solid proof.

[FFga;axy]

I don't believe any of the rumors, some may have low pay and little promotion but I do not think they would beat up their precious money makers.

[French_Fries]

I wouldn't doubt it. It was a well known fact that SM town is very strict and evil in management. People who made it to SM town has a very high chance of being famous, but the company treats the artist like crap. I am not sure if Boa gets special treatment all the time. I know while she was training, she got yelled alot till she cried back then

SES, HOT, Shinhwa, all had debuts about the money and contract




and hitting? I really wouldn't doubt it. Hitting "children" in Korean isn't a problem. Not easy to sue because .. they might already had a contract.

[nocturne.]

...I believe (I remember reading this) an average SM group like DBSK makes around 3 CENTS or something per album/single they sell. That split 5 ways is less than 1 cent per member.

so supposedly an SM group makes 2 million for one album, but the actually group itself gets 3 cents? i kind of doubt that, wouldn't the group and lee soo man agree on how much they all get? if they did, i doubt that they'd agree on 3 cents.

[asuka chan~]

omg this is so cruel!!!! nooo! i wish they would stop abusing them if this is true! i cant believe this! it sounds so horrible...! and paying them so little?! i dont think that true also! and if it is then that is so unfair! i hope this is not true TT^TT

[lin dan]

My friend gave me this:

In Changmin's drama, Snow Flower, he was supposed to film a "bed scene" with

the female lead, Go Ara. As Changmin wasn't experienced enough, (even he had

not kissed before) he insisted not to film that particular scene. Lee Soo Man was

very angry and he immidiately slapped Changmin really really hard when they are

on the set in front of everyone because he wanted Changmin to film it. But still,

Changmin continued to reject that scene so, the directors had no choice but to

remove that scene. poor Chang Min!!

and this too:

Actually the incident where Changmin got beaten is true. Lee Sooman wanted a female artist to be famous, so he wanted her to have rumors with Changmin in order to get popular. Changmin rejected it sternly, and LSM got really mad, so he asked other people to beat him up. He even stood there saying,"As long as you don't beat him till death." Changmin returned to the hostel and the 4 of them were there. Jaejoong nearly cried seeing Changmin's bad condition.
There was another time where Lee Sooman dorced Changmin to work 3 days 3 night without rest.He got a fever as high as 38 degree celcius the next day and he didn't tell anyone about it. Lee Sooman insisted him to perform, and on the 3rd day, he fainted. The 4 of them cried.
Another time where Yunho & Jaejoong got beaten by LSM and it was really terrible, Changmin kneeled down crying and begging LSM to stop beating the hyungs.
Yoochun cried on stage once and nearly got beaten up by LSM but he got saved by Dongwan as he asked the 4 of them to stay close to Yoochun to protect him.
Jaejoong got beaten once till his mouth was bleeding but he had to say that he fell down accidentally.

Changmin once said that the reason why he was beaten by LSM and why he was always kneeling is to beg for the rest. LSM wanted to kick 1 of the members out but Changmin insisted that if he really have to kick one of them out, he would leave as well. DBSK...pls leave SM!!

This post has been edited by lin dan: Nov 19 2006 3 49 PM

[rainysunday]

didn't minwoo say shinhwa got beat lots of times when they were under SM?

[Schmetterling]

I dont get it.. so the band gets instant fame and stardom but is it worth being beat and abused? Maybe its cultrual. i dont know but i dont think anyone has any right to be treated like that. I just dont think that you can expect a person or group to change by abusing them.

[Simpleton]

I think most of the rumors r tru, but unconfirmed. Since Sm is such a big company and influential in the entertainment industry, I think they hav the power 2 do that. I can't blieve that they pay their artists so little, yet continue 2 abuse them. Lik with BoA, even though everyone knoes she's more popular than Hyori, Hyori someone makes more than her. Hopefully, BoA and DBSk, as well as all other Sm artists will leave Sm!!!!!!!

[mzdeviL]

didn't minwoo say shinhwa got beat lots of times when they were under SM?

omg are u serious? Shinhwa got beaten many times?! it's a good thing they left SM in 2003! They are some of the lucky ones! I hope the others leave too!

[hs.eliz]

gosh.. after reading what you guys have posted with those SM beating TVXQ, i feel so worried bout them! i wish all al these werent true.. if it is, im gonna be heartbroken!!

[lilazn26]

oh my.. i read that long post.. and even though it's a rumor..
i still sorta believe it.
while reading, i was thinking to myself..
"i am so glad that i didn't trial for the SM Town Entertainment audition" thing..
i heard they were hard on u too..
u basically walk in.. and they look at you..
sometimes you don't even sing for 30 seconds and they cut u off.

plastic surgery.. seriously! that's like, crazy!
it's either you touch the knife.. or ur not in anymore?
what the heck...
i use to like boa a lot.. but hearing these "rumors"
on how they keep on investigating all their earnings on her..
that just makes me mad.
i LOVE Shinhwa, SES and also HOT.
i was so happy when i found out that they were once part of SM..
but now, hearing how and why they left..
i am actually more glad that they did..

also that court thig.. or trial thing..
on how SM sewed Shinhwa for leaving..
that was just lame!
they can't use the name because they switched companies?
what if a singer switched companies..
a singer who used a fake/different name.. [most singers do that now]
you can't say that you want them to switch their name, cuz it was under copyright or w.e can you?

this made me think twice about SM Town Entertainment....

[nanshi]

I read about this from the Kpopper thread to begin with. And it's curious. A Kpopper forumgoer had a REALLLY nice post about it.

BoA is SM's "Jewel" She brings in major bucks from Japan. Japanese music industry are more likely to buy albums if you're succesful that's why it's probably the next biggest after the US music ind. I hear BoA actually only got really well known in Korea AFTER her success in Japan. I don't think they beat her, since she was quite young but because of her age i would think they try to convince her and overwork her. But SM won't let go of BoA and BoA is happy to be treated as Queen of SM.

I would think DBSK got treated badly AT FIRST, but now their popularity and fanbase is beyond SM 's control. (i think Hero is actually one of the more popular ones now) I mean about the rotation thing when DBSK fans heard i think they threatened to set fire to the SM building O_o........go DBSK fans.....

I know SM have ALOT of influence and control in the industry i think there was a girl called Joanne? she was slightly younger than BoA and people have said she sounded better. But after a first album LSM had connections to stop her releasing another since it might affect BoA's popularity.

As for Shinhwa, there are so many rumours going around i don't even know which is true. I hear Andy getting beat up the most, and the reason why Andy wasn't around for the 4th album was LSM's doing. But when Andy returned Shinhwa fanbase held strong and wanted Andy back to keep Shinhwa as they were and still are.

H.O.T, people say that Moon Hee Jun and KangTa were signed earlier before the other 3 and so when contracts were renewed they renewed them 2 and when the other 3 had expired they didn't. Therefore causing H.O.T to split. Which i think is LSM BIGGEST mistake.

I can see how all these rumours can be true, since most of the artists that were abused the most had left, FTTS, H.O.T, Shinhwa, S.E.S. They were popular but had taken too much and when they had the chance to leave they did. FTTS contract expired and they left same with Shinhwa. Plus look at it this way, if LSM actually spent decent money and time with Shinhwa they would've got a DaeSang ages ago. Shinhwa did get one for their new album with their new company.

So if your're popular and bring in money you'll be treated like gold. ie DBSK, BoA, Super Junior

If you're not then you'll be left on the back burner, ie Dana, she actually joined and debuted at SM before Boa but she has been shifted from group to group and not promoted much. The Trax, and KangTa, he's very popular but you've got to admit most of the hype and promotion are done by his loyal fans.

Which summarizes the situation pretty neatly; especially the stuff about BoA being favorited, which she is. Let's face it.

As for joining SM Town... Yup. From what I've heard, if you join SM Town, you might as well sign away your life, if not your soul. They get EVERYTHING from you, control all rights and all trademarks... everything.

Which is why I didn't try out for the SM Town Auditions. I don't know how hard they were... but I do know that if I got through... I would NOT be willing to sign away my life. And yes, the plastic surgery thing is also true. SM probably gets exclusive rights to your... life for X-amount of years. Shinhwa was under SM town for... I want to say 4 years? They've probably gotten smarter and made the contract term at least six years now.

And it is very obvious that SM Entertainers dominate the Korean pop market. When you first thing of Kpop, you probably think of SM Entertainers (TVXQ, BoA, Kangta) or FORMER SM Entertainers (H.O.T, Shinhwa)... etc. After the intial exposure... then you move onto other people (Se7en, Bi, Hyori, etc).

It's like a cult... korean popular culture.

This post has been edited by nanshi: Nov 29 2006 3 01 AM

[.Lolly-Pop*]

At first I believed all of the SM Rumors when I first read about it, I wanted to curse the SM managers and Lee Soo Man or whoever who had ill-treated/abuse the Sm artistes
But after hearing out some reasonable posts and sorting out some reasonable thoughts, I started to think that half of it is fake :XX

3 CENTS

This is ridculous! Those rumors are kinda getting old & out of hand! Those rumors when they are first circulated around the net and read by neitizens might be true, but as times goes by, there are more and more different kind of 'stories' which is more and more ridculous 3cents?!!!! How are they gonna eat or gonna survive?!! But if you look at those clips, you'll realize that they are also being treated like a human. The artistes under SM Entertainment; be it you are a SM trainees or a artistes, you get to go to the outings; you're being treated with good foods and etcs....
Yes, we all know that SM Ent likes to mix and match their artistes around, so it is common that their fans are able to see their idol in 1 or 2 group at sometimes. For example, there was 1 time where HyeSung were in both group -Shinhwa and Group 'S'. Nothing Wrong with that
About members of Shinhwa were beaten by their SM Managers then when they didn't want to help BoA to have the autograph or something like that [can't remmember ], I thought that might be unture, because if you were to look at one clip on youtube which features BoA and Shinhwa when they were young, you'll know that they are actually friends. BoA was saying in Mandarin while Shinhwa was at the back inmiating what BoA had said. If the rumors were ture, I think Shinhwa could be too afraid to stand near BoA. WHY? Because if they were to offend BoA, they could be beaten again! Also, if BoA were really a sucked up person, how can she be buddies with S.E.S members?! Especially when the S.E.S members had different personalities as compared to BoA?!!! U could say that S.E.S were pretending to be friends with BoA because they neeed her popularity. But on the second thought, both S.E.S and BoA were very popular in Japan at the time-I can say they even have the same status of 'popularity'
I think the only period where SM artistes 'suffered' was when they in their first few years as a trainee. They need to praticised real hard to make them stand out or they could never fufill their dream.
About punishing them, that is ofcourse! I mean when you make a big mistake, won't you get punished by your parents/elders?!
About SM Ent being strict, but if you think about it--If a management company isn't strict to their artistes [especially when u're in Korea], how could you be a artiste where you are well-respected by others?! This is just a cultural issue, the same goes for Johnny Ent in Japan who is even more stricter than SM ent
About Lee Soo Man, I think not only was him the founder of SM ent; he can also be one of the founders of the Hallyu Wave. No LSM = No BoA, S.E.S, H.O.T, Shinhwa -No 1st Hallyu Wave and currently, the on-going 3rd Hallyu Wave ^^; Yes, he might punish his artistes, but he is a strict man; he wants everything to be perfect; but on the other hand, he can also be a admirable/lovely father who loves his SM artistes -Like what TVXQ! had said in their thank-you ^^;
About them being over-load, it does not only happen to SM artistes but also artistes in other c'tries management company. They work more than their no. of sleep per day. But since it is the path they choose, it is one of the price which they have to bear.
About the audtions, most auditions are like that; it does not only applies to SM Ent. hmm.. If they felt that you aren't suitable to become a singer, what the use of listening to your voice when they are still many people out there waiting and they might be heaps talented/ better singers than you What I said might be alittle too blunt, but after watching someother auditions clips, that is what I thought. I think when you're in a SM audtion, it meant that you need to be prepared rather than being nervous.
About SM ent sueing Shinhwa, I think SM Ent just felt that it was a pity that another talented and popular group had left them and thus, they wanted to use many lame excuses to make them stay or to vanish in the showbiz. That is reality
----------------------------------------
Ture or not; it all depends on how you deep you believe in those rumors About Hero Jae Joong being beaten up and there were a pic of it, I can't see the pic clearly or the 'scars' which were said by others so.... About them being beaten up/abused, it was all based on others hearsay; it doesn't have a evidence or even a pic which said so. He say; U say; She say; and when you heard of the rumors, it might have already been a false rumor Unless he/she works in SM Ent, then will I believe that it might be true, but again, it is a one-sided story

[Amurokenji]

haha ppl thinks its rumors... my close friend is a bodyguard for sm entertainment... as far as i know ... beatings do happen.. iono about the other stuff

[rebel316]

Honestly, I'm quite surprised SM is still around after so many groups dissolved or people leaving. The only reason they are still going is because BoA and Kangta are practically carrying all of SM and they are shareholders of SM too. If either of them left SM, it would probably cripple them, which is probably why they own shares; to keep them at SM.

[nanshi]

Honestly, I'm quite surprised SM is still around after so many groups dissolved or people leaving. The only reason they are still going is because BoA and Kangta are practically carrying all of SM and they are shareholders of SM too. If either of them left SM, it would probably cripple them, which is probably why they own shares; to keep them at SM.

BoA has renewed her contract with SM Entertainment until 2012. [And I wonder if Vanness is considered part of SM now...?] I think the 'rotation' thing that I had quoted earlier is what is happening to Super Junior (with KRY, but I could be wrong, and I think the rotation thing was blown out of proportion. Honestly, with a 'boyband' that has 13 members... it'd do some good to split them up a bit). Also, in SM's defense... Look at Shin Dong from SUJU... He hardly fits the category of what is considered 'attractive' in the Korean mainstream... and yet he was still recruited into SUJU... so meh.

As for the whole 'beating' thing... well, there is no proof... and maybe I'm just too "American," but I don't think being part of a company entitles the managers of said-company to punish (severely) their members. Obviously though, if there is a major wrong (like JaeJoong completely screwing up at the Daesang)... then punishment is justified... but still... Especially since the majority of SM's entertainers ARE adults (and there's a whole schpiel about 'non-age' and 'liberty' and 'accountability' that I could go into here, but I won't...). I still don't think physical punishment should be allowed though. I mean, it just goes back to the whole 'they are adults' thing. You spank a child, but do you spank an adult? No, you lecture and you yell and you scream... but you don't spank/beat. There's something innately (well, to me anyways) wrong about that. I kinda feel that SM Entertainment is kinda the equivalent to Taiwan's Jungiery. There are a LOT of Jstars that are put on the backburner because they aren't popular... and SM is ALWAYS actively trying to recruit new members and stretching themselves really thin... they have at least twenty well-known artists out there (and previously popular artists) and then (goodness knows) how many trainees? I guess that's what I don't like about SM the most... is the fact that they own one's lives and that they have a tendency to spread themselves really really thin.

This post has been edited by nanshi: Dec 9 2006 12 14 AM

[kryeowook]

well guys the good thing is there is absolutely no evidence and not enough if so to prove tat sm actually tortures their artistes rumours like these are common so don't need to worry too much plus if sm does torture their artiste then why is tvxq for example still under it wouldn't they be plain dumb to stay?? think bout it...

[Strawberry Cooki...]

Can't believe this , I mean for the article . Its just Awful ...

[rainysunday]

Lik with BoA, even though everyone knoes she's more popular than Hyori, Hyori someone makes more than her.

umm did you read the news a couple of days ago? i'm pretty sure it said boa was THE highest paid korean entertainer this year.

well guys the good thing is there is absolutely no evidence and not enough if so to prove tat sm actually tortures their artistes rumours like these are common so don't need to worry too much plus if sm does torture their artiste then why is tvxq for example still under it wouldn't they be plain dumb to stay?? think bout it...

you have no idea to what lenghths people would go to stay popular and be a part of a company that ensures their longevity.

[icibritestarz]

well guys the good thing is there is absolutely no evidence and not enough if so to prove tat sm actually tortures their artistes rumours like these are common so don't need to worry too much plus if sm does torture their artiste then why is tvxq for example still under it wouldn't they be plain dumb to stay?? think bout it...

DBSG is still under SM cause their contract has yet to up, they can choose to leave SM when their contract is up and move on to a new one just like what Shinhwa and FTTS did

[Claws5311_DBSKlo...]

My friend gave me this:

In Changmin's drama, Snow Flower, he was supposed to film a "bed scene" with

the female lead, Go Ara. As Changmin wasn't experienced enough, (even he had

not kissed before) he insisted not to film that particular scene. Lee Soo Man was

very angry and he immidiately slapped Changmin really really hard when they are

on the set in front of everyone because he wanted Changmin to film it. But still,

Changmin continued to reject that scene so, the directors had no choice but to

remove that scene. poor Chang Min

IMO, this one is a fake one, because I read this like 3 or 4 months ago, and they haven't started to film it 'till las month ( I think). So they should not be "on the set" nor the directors at that time. So that makes it one un-true rumor about SM. About LSM, i don't think he is that cruel, because i read in wikipedia that he used to be a singer but his fame faded, and he just wanted to help youngters full fill their dreams or sumthing like that. So i don't really hate him.

[chenny]

okay seriously.. this beating stuff is got to be fake right.. i never ever heard of a entertainment agency/company where they actually beat ppl.. this sstuff is like so illegal.. its gott to be illegal in korea too.... but yea what about the rumour where boa sleeps with LSM. to get where she is at now..

[colapinada]

This is a bit sad, but seriously, SM Entertainment didn't make these celebrities join. They joined themselves, so why should we pity them?