3 EXO-CBX Members Face Asset Seizure as SM Entertainment Escalates Legal Battle
A new legal twist has emerged in the ongoing dispute between SM Entertainment and EXO-CBX members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, after the agency reportedly filed court requests to temporarily seize parts of the artists’ assets.
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According to Breaknews on February 11, SM Entertainment initiated legal procedures seeking provisional asset seizure to prevent potential financial losses while the contract dispute remains unresolved. The move is intended to secure repayment of alleged unpaid debts.
Between February 9–10, SM submitted requests to freeze certain real estate holdings and security deposits belonging to the three singers, totaling approximately 2.6 billion won (about $1.78 million USD). The breakdown reportedly includes:
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Chen: around 300 million won (~$206,000 USD)
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Baekhyun: around 1.6 billion won (~$1.1 million USD)
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Xiumin: around 700 million won (~$480,000 USD)
The legal action is believed to be based on an agreement signed in June 2023, under which SM Entertainment would receive 10% of revenue generated from the members’ individual activities.
Provisional seizure is a temporary legal measure that restricts a debtor’s ability to manage or dispose of assets during litigation. Reportedly affected properties include Chen’s bank deposits, Baekhyun’s apartment in Acheon-dong, Guri (Gyeonggi Province), and Xiumin’s apartment in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul.
The conflict between SM Entertainment and EXO-CBX dates back to 2023, when the members announced their intention to terminate their exclusive contracts. Both sides later reached an agreement allowing the trio to continue group activities with EXO, while their individual promotions would be managed by INB100, with SM receiving a 10% share of earnings.
However, EXO-CBX later accused SM of failing to honor the agreement and withholding royalty payments, triggering a series of counter-legal actions. SM is currently pursuing legal enforcement of the exclusive contracts, while both sides remain engaged in ongoing court proceedings.
