“Though Avex put an end to all of JYJ’s activities, they sold CDs and DVDs without consulting C-JeS (JYJ’s Korean management company). We fans, who have been watching over the situation, reached our limit when Avex decided to obstruct JYJ’s plans to hold a charity concert in Japan. We are outraged at Avex for using their contract as a shield and interfering with an event geared to help those affected by the tsunami and earthquake.” (Japanese JYJ fan, @keico04)
“Avex will not allow them to participate in activities yet they refuse to break the contract. Why?” (@byoru1)
Idol group JYJ (Park Yoochun, Kim Junsu, Kim Jaejoong), who have been finding it difficult to appear on TV domestically since their split from TVXQ, have even begun facing troubles in pursuing Japanese activities because of their Japanese agency Avex and this has caused Japanese fans to speak up about the issue.
It all began when people began to state that JYJ’s plans for a large-scale Japanese charity concert, set to aid the victims of the 3·11 earthquake, were on the verge of being cancelled due to Avex’s interference strategies. The rage of Japanese fans, who had already been teeming with anger since Avex suddenly halted all of JYJ’s activities last October, seemed to explode at the possibility that the concert might be cancelled.
On the 19th, a few Japanese fans wrote a ‘Request Document’ to Avex, calling for JYJ’s Japanese activities to resume, and it has already collected over 10,000 signatures though it hasn’t even been a month since it began collecting signatures.
When ‘Hankyoreh’ asked for the opinion of Japanese fans on Twitter, we received over 200 responses in a few hours. Like those we have stated above, the majority of fans wrote that they could not accept the actions of Avex.
It is quite unusual to see Japanese fans gathering to publicly voice their opinions to help their favorite Hallyu star.
What is fuelling the controversy behind the issue is that some believe the ‘Seoul-Osaka Music Of Heart 2011, Fighting Japan!’, in which the remaining members of TVXQ are performing, has something to do with the cancellation of JYJ’s Japanese charity concert.
In a recent press release, C-JeS stated that JYJ had decided to hold a charity concert in the 20,000-set Saitama Super Areana on June 7th, and had even signed the contract to rent the concert venue, but had been suddenly notified of the nullification of the contract.
Soon after the earthquake, JYJ were some of the forerunners in providing aid to the grief-stricken region as they donated 600 million Won and stated, “We want to give back to our Japanese fans who have helped us so much.”
This may be why many fans are reacting to the controversy with statements such as, “Interfering with a charity concert is going way too far,” and “I’m embarrassed to be a Japanese person because of Avex.”
@eyua brought up a question that seems to be shared by many as she said, “So many foreigners are returning to their home countries because of the nuclear issue, but JYJ are volunteering to come and help those in need with their good will, so why are they being stopped?“
C-JeS pointed the blame of the venue’s cancellation on Avex as they stated, “Avex’s continuous and concentrated interference strategies are what caused this issue (nullification of the contract).” Though C-JeS were able to sign a provisional contract with another concert venue, it has been found that it is still uncertain whether or not the concert will be held.
In a phone conversation with ‘Hankyoreh’, CEO Baek Chang Joo of C-JeS stated, “We are currently doing everything we can, such as talking to and convincing the representatives of the concert venue, to make this performance happen.” Tickets for the charity concert went on sale on April 5th and the performance is currently sold out.
CEO Baek also wrote a statement to Japanese fans on JYJ’s homepage that read, “As JYJ’s Japanese fans have been waiting to see JYJ perform on stage for a long time, we even considered cancelling the concert as we would not be able to hold a proper concert. But we have decided to plough through with our plans in order to keep JYJ’s promise with their fans who have been waiting patiently and faithfully for JYJ’s return.“
CEO Baek stated that after the split of TVXQ, Avex signed a contract with C-JeS last March with regards to JYJ’s Japanese activities and helped them perform in Japan. But in October, Avex suddenly halted all of JYJ’s activities.
He added, “Avex states that they halted JYJ’s activities due to personal issue with myself and due to the TVXQ legal dispute, but it just seems like they want all management rights to JYJ’s global activities.”
The Japanese weekly newspaper Shukan Bunshun recently released an article in which Avex stated, “This concert is a clear breach of contract as JYJ are artistes signed under Avex. In our opinion, we feel as though the event is profit-driven (though it claims to be a charity event).”
However, the request document submitted by the Japanese fans refuted Avex’s claims as it said, “If Avex wants to claim that they nullified their contract because they did not know of C-JeS’ CEO’s past before the contract was signed, doesn’t that mean that Avex neglected the basic duty of surveying and examining a company they intend to cooperate with?” Regarding Avex’s claim about the legal dispute, fans stated, “When JYJ resumed their Japanese activities last April, the Courts had already laid down a verdict in October, 2009 that there was something wrong with the exclusive contract between SM and the trio,” and “This means that Avex’s claim that, ‘There is a possibility that the exclusive contract may be nullified based on the Courts’ verdict’ wasn’t even an issue to begin with.” As the Japanese market is JYJ’s biggest market, the inability to perform in the nation will result in great losses for the group.
JYJ won the battle against SM’s exclusive contract validity confirmation and dual-contract suspension injunction in January and were granted the freedom to pursue independent activities in the entertainment agency. But broadcasting and cable companies have been hesitant in allowing the group to perform in their music programs because of SM and other big entertainment agencies. CEO Baek stated, “The results of the lawsuit have yet to have any affect on opening JYJ up to opportunities to appear on TV.”
JYJ are currently focusing on their global tour that encompasses Japan.
Starting in April 2nd and 3rd in Thailand, JYJ have already attracted 43,000 fans to the four stops of their Asia tour.
Source: [hankyoreh]
Translated & Shared by: dongbangdata.net
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