EXO bandmates, critics cross as Kris quits

He claimed he was treated "like a machine part or as an object of control".

He also accused his management agency of not presenting his vision as an entertainer.

Kris, 24, of Korean boy band EXO, wants out. He filed a lawsuit against his agency SM Entertainment last week to nullify his contract.

EXO is a 12-member K-pop boy band which consists of Chinese sub-unit EXO-M (six members) and Korean sub-unit EXO-K (six members), which target the Chinese and Korean music markets respectively.

Kris, the leader of EXO-M, may have spoken, but were those the real reasons why he is so adamant on leaving his group?

Or is it because he wants to go solo so that he can make more money?

That's what SKarf founder Alan Chan believes. SKarf is the first K-pop girl group with two Singaporean members.

The CEO of Singapore entertainment company Alpha Entertainment offered a twist to K-pop's biggest recent shocker when he made the suggestion that Kris is a selfish diva who has a personal agenda.

Earlier theories put forth by thousands of distraught fans and media online were largely sympathetic to Kris's cause - was the K-pop star having financial difficulties, suffering from heart problems or being bullied by his band members?

In the lawsuit, he reportedly claimed that his company had never considered nor respected his opinion and health when scheduling the group's promotional activities in South Korea and China.

Giving his opinion on the saga, Mr Chan told The New Paper yesterday that insiders privy to the goings-on of the case had revealed to him that Kris, who was born in Guangzhou, has allegedly already signed on to film upcoming movies and dramas in China, where he has a massive fan base.

Launching an acting career would have been impossible if he were still part of EXO.

But whether he has been mistreated by his agency remains a separate issue.

Mr Chan has some staff in the Korea arm of his company who were previously SM Entertainment employees. He said that the entertainment giant has always been fair in its business dealings.

He said: "What I was told is that Kris's side is very confident about winning the case.

"Suing one's own agency is common in Korea. Youngsters nowadays don't respect the spirit of the contract, as their mentality is different from that of veteran entertainers."

DIVA?

"Kris is a diva, he probably wants to go solo so that he can make more money.

"He was given the stage that made him famous. He didn't sign the contract blindly."

Mr Chan added: "Everyone knows that training in Korea is tough and if the rest of his band members don't have a problem, why does he?

"By doing this, he is being irresponsible because this will affect the 11 other members who have worked very hard to get to where they are today."

Indeed, Kris's band members have branded him a traitor for quitting on them just before their first solo concert world tour kicks off this Friday.

In a recent interview with the Chinese press, bandmate Tao said: "Pulling this kind of stunt without consulting any of us as we await our world tour that is important to all of us is unacceptable and is an act of bad faith."

The other members explained that the group plans to proceed with its concerts.

"Our EXO members are carrying out our activities and have no issues with our agency," said Lay.

Luhan added: "We hope there will be no more malicious public sentiment."

Pulling this kind of stunt without consulting any of us as we await our world tour that is important to all of us is unacceptable and is an act of bad faith.

- EXO bandmate Tao on Kris' plan to quit the group.