Yudabin. Provided by MPMG Music

Kim Billy (legal name Kim Byung-heon), head of Billibin Music and former agency of Yudabinband frontman Yudabin, is initiating legal proceedings against Yudabin.

On the 10th, in a phone call with this outlet, Kim said, “We plan next week to file an application for an injunction to suspend activities, a lawsuit seeking restitution of unjust enrichment, and a damages claim of 300 million won against Yudabin himself,” indicating he will pursue a full-fledged legal response. He added that this is separate from the criminal complaint against his current agency MPMG, and is intended to hold Yudabin civilly liable for breach of contract and collusion in tampering.

Kim emphasized the purpose of the suit, saying, “This civil action will clarify Yudabin’s breach of contract and his collusion with MPMG, while protecting the legitimate rights and interests of agencies that nurture artists and marking an important turning point in ending the illegal practice of tampering that undermines the foundation of the K-content industry.”

He also explained the basis for the damages amount, stating, “Considering employee salaries, rent, and projected revenue, the losses amount to at least 770 million won.”

Kim concluded, “Billibin Music suffered serious damage due to MPMG’s unfair tampering. Strong measures by relevant institutions such as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency are needed to prevent a recurrence of such unfair practices,” adding, “We will fulfill our public-interest responsibility to the end for the transparency of the entire indie industry.”

Kim Billy, CEO of Billibin Music.

In this regard, on the 9th Kim released the contents of a conversation with Yudabin from last February on his YouTube channel ‘Billy Show’.

In the recorded footage, Yudabin and Kim met accompanied by a lawyer representing Yudabin. That day, Yudabin said, “I recognize that it was rude to have said I wanted to terminate the (past) contract,” while asserting, “However, there is a large difference between revenue at the time of my solo-activity contract and now. Trying to treat them as the same and maintain the contract appears to have a (different) motive.”

In response, Kim said, “If this kind of behavior continues to repeat, what agency head would send their artists to audition programs?” and countered, “I do not understand the demands for an unreasonable increase in the signing fee and the condition to hold only small-scale performances with fewer than 200 seats.”

Meanwhile, a dispute has been ongoing between Billibin Music, Yudabin’s former agency, and Yudabinband’s agency MPMG regarding Yudabin’s contract. Billibin Music has alleged tampering and double contracting by MPMG with respect to Yudabin, and filed a complaint with the Seongdong Police Station in Seoul on charges of false accusation and obstruction of business. MPMG, however, has countered, “There was no tampering, and we went through a lawful contracting process.”