Attrakt, the agency behind girl group Fifty Fifty, has filed a 20 billion won ($14.5 million) lawsuit against former and current executives of Warner Music Korea, alleging they attempted to poach the group’s former members from the agency.

Attrakt had previously accused Warner Music Korea of contract tampering, which involves altering or interfering with a contract without the consent of all involved parties.

"Warner Music Korea played a key role in the contract dispute with the former members of Fifty Fifty," Attrakt said in a press release on Wednesday. "They held a tampering meeting with the parents of the former members at the Warner Music Korea headquarters on May 17 last year, and we have secured all key evidence."


The accused executives include Clayton Jin, the former CEO of Warner Music Korea, and Yoon Hyung-geun, the company’s current executive director.

In June last year, Attrakt claimed that an external force was attempting to lure Fifty Fifty members away to a new company, which Attrakt later identified as Warner Music Korea.

"The actual amount of damages is even greater, but we are initially claiming 20 billion won and plan to increase the amount of damages in the future," Attrakt CEO Oscar Chun said in the press release.

Four months after its debut release, "The Beginning: Cupid," Fifty Fifty entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 100 in February last year with the track "Cupid." The song later climbed to No. 17 in May.

The group’s activities were suspended after the four members — Saena, Aran, Sio and Keena — filed for an injunction against Attrakt's exclusive contracts in June 2023, less than a year after the quartet’s debut in November 2022, citing unfair treatment and unpaid profits.

The court dismissed the case on Aug. 28, 2023, but the members appealed. Keena dropped her case and reconciled with Attrakt on Oct. 16, 2023, while the remaining three members were removed from the group and the agency three days later.

The three members later joined the label corporation Massive E&C under NS ENM, formerly known as IOK Company, and formed a new three-member girl group named ablume on Oct. 15.

Fifty Fifty began a new chapter with four new members and a refreshed image. The group released its album "Love Tune" on Sept. 20, featuring original member Keena alongside new members Chanelle Moon, Yewon, Hana and Athena.

BY YOON SEUNG-JIN [yoon.seungjin@joongang.co.kr]