One Hundred Label faces new legal battle over The Boyz concert

K-pop boy group The Boyz / Courtesy of One Hundred Label

K-pop agency One Hundred Label is embroiled in a new legal battle over online broadcasting rights just two weeks before K-pop boy band The Boyz' upcoming Seoul concert, adding to the agency's existing contract dispute with the group's members.

The Boyz is scheduled to hold its "INTER-ZECTION" concert at the KSPO Dome in Seoul from April 24-26. Online streaming ticket sales opened Tuesday.

Streaming platform Knowmerce alleged the same day that it holds the exclusive broadcasting contract and had already paid the agency. Knowmerce said One Hundred Label breached the contract and opened ticket sales with a rival firm. To prevent fan confusion, Knowmerce announced it is halting its sales and issuing full refunds to those who already bought streaming tickets.

The K-pop label swiftly denied the accusations. Hyun Dong-yeop, an attorney representing One Hundred Label CEO Cha Ga-won, said the agency switched providers because Knowmerce failed to fulfill its contract and had a history of technical instability and poor communication. The agency said the change was necessary to ensure fans receive a stable, high-definition broadcast.

One Hundred Label said it would take civil and criminal action against Knowmerce, saying it would have a "zero tolerance" response. The agency added that a forensic analysis of text messages between Cha and the CEO of Knowmerce proves the platform's allegations are false.

The corporate clash adds to the agency's ongoing legal crisis. In March, nine members of The Boyz, excluding New, sent a formal notice to terminate their exclusive contracts. The members alleged the agency withheld earnings for activities since July 2025.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.