SHINee’s Taemin is being praised for stepping up for his team during a difficult transition.
On February 24th, it was confirmed that Taemin recently terminated his exclusive contract with Big Planet Made Entertainment. Although time remained on the agreement, it is said that he strongly requested to end it, and the two sides parted ways without a legal dispute after about one year and ten months together.
According to reports, Taemin personally covered the staff salaries out of his own pocket in recent months as issues arose during the end of his contract with Big Planet Made Entertainment. The move was reportedly made to continue working with his long-time staff and to keep his team stable amid uncertainty.
The gesture is being seen as a reflection of Taemin’s loyalty and sense of responsibility toward the staff he has worked with for years.
According to sources familiar with the situation, CEO Cha Ga Won had little choice but to accept Taemin’s request. In addition to delayed payments, Cha is said to have committed a major error by signing an external contract without Taemin’s consent.
Cha Ga Won co-founded One Hundred with MC Mong in December 2023, with Big Planet Made Entertainment operating as a subsidiary. After Taemin’s 16-year run with SM Entertainment ended in March 2024, he signed with Big Planet Made Entertainment soon after. Both companies are currently led by Cha Ga Won.
Reports also claim that Cha has not paid settlement funds totaling tens of billions of won (tens of millions USD) not only to Taemin but also to other artists under Big Planet Made Entertainment and its affiliates, including Lee Seung Gi, The Boyz, and EXO’s Baekhyun. The situation has reportedly made it difficult for the companies to properly support artist activities, raising questions about what moves may come next for the label’s roster.
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