Today, Pledis Entertainment just announced via an official statement that a lawsuit has been filed against Zhou Jieqiong aka Kyulkyung, a former member of the girl group PRISTIN, for breach of contract. The singer-actress has been with Pledis Entertainment since starting her career in the K-pop industry, and an exclusive contract exists between the two parties. It is also thanks to the efforts of Pledis and her Chinese management company XCSS Entertainment that she was able to secure a spot not only as a contestant in Korea’s Produce 101 but also as a mentor on Idol Producer, her very first acting gig in Miss Truth and a supporting role in Legend of Fei.
According to the statement, Zhou Jieqiong sent in a one-sided notice terminating her contract with Pledis Entertainment in September 2019 and is reportedly avoiding any further contact with them and XCSS Entertainment. This was done via post, email and messenger which kinda reminded me of the Taylor Swift – Joe Jonas breakup that happened over the phone and not face to face. Since then, the singer has been actively continuing her appearances and activities in China independently, which is a violation of their contract.
With all that’s been said, Zhou Jieqiong has responded with her own statement late this afternoon to explain her side, “Because of the significant problems that have surfaced in the course of my partnership with Pledis, I, Zhou Jieqiong, after much deliberation and careful thought about my career, have formally sent a lawyer’s letter to Pledis Entertainment and XCSS Entertainment on September 10, 2019 to request for the termination of our contract in written form. It was my hope that we can come to an amicable agreement legally without the distraction of personal matters. However since the issue is already out in the open, I’ll face this and try to resolve it fully.
I don’t wish to argue any further about what’s right and wrong, all I can do is to work hard and strive to become a better version of myself to create better projects for everyone and to live up to the expectations of those who love and trust me. Thank you to the company for their guidance and for taking care of me all these years and I hope that we can both be better versions of ourselves in the future.”
Source: 1
Lil
Looks like she is willing to pay the fine to get out now that the opportunity is there.
Anonymous
I expected this since the rumors that her company was pushing to steal scenes from ZLY during the Legend of Fei filming. Good luck to her. I honestly don't feel bad for these companies that exploit young kids. As much as they do invest money into making them popular, they also work them to the ground. Better to get out and pay a fine while you can. At the end they would just use up her youth and not care about her anymore.
Anonymous
Her debut Miss Truth was a very strong start. The Legend of Fei shouldn't be a bad project either. She got a very good start.
It looks very ungrateful to just leave like that so quick. But it's not anything new anymore, ZLY too, was unwilling to waste up her youth and also broke off unamicably with many agents who gave her a very good start too. Everyone just want to get the new best thing out there.
Anonymous
She could have handled it more professionally.
Anonymous
Most people would not do it like her, they don't want to pay the fine and also don't want to risk burning bridges.
Even as popular as DLRB and YZ they still cannot afford to do such things. They always get bad projects doing the same role over and over. But still stick to their agency. They probably don't have other connections anywhere else.
Few people who part unprofessionally are either rich, or they have very good connections or back ups. It's surprising after leaving unprofessionally they still get better projects the next time. Others can do it, she can too.
I'm guessing she has better offers coming up than what her agency can do. It still looks bad because of how fast she's dumping them with just a note, but it's not like it never happened before too.
Anonymous
Nobody knows for sure if she was trying to steal scenes, it's just a really evil assumption even Zhang Huiwen was dragged in it.
I don't know if both girls ever publish any denial about it. If yes, maybe ZLY fans are too strong whatever they said just went unheard. If no they never reply, I guess I could see why they're being suspected. Keeping silent makes it look like they're scare to speak out the truth because it's embrassing. But it's also not impossible too, that it was a decision made by directors only, for the sake of prolonging the drama by wasting time as always. The actresses could be forced to keep silence so the director won't get in trouble since ZLY already revealed there is something wrong with the adaptation's quality. If they step out to say it's not their fault then all fingers point at the director. Nobody knows the real story I believe. I think it was also unprofessional of ZLY to involve her fans, with her status already, she can do something about it herself by using a professional approach.
hohliu
There have been many news about scenes stealing and even ZLY have posted a interesting message about wanting story to keep to script. I gather ZLY's message must have changed the situation by a lot.
hohliu
I agree, even if she does not personally speak to her management company, she should get a lawyer to accompany her to speak on her behalf. Just emailing and hoping for the best is a very naive way of doing things. It will definitely backfire on her.
I hope she find someone suitable to represent her now to solve this very tricky and ugly situation.
Anonymous
@2.b I know she changed the situation, just saying she could use a professional approach being the senior above everyone else. Zhang Huiwen shouldn't have to be dragged in when it only seemed like Kyulkyung might have brought her writer.