Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
Back to profile3 entries
2023
SM 3.0 governance and takeover dispute
SM's proposal to issue shares and convertible bonds to Kakao, together with the shift away from Lee Soo-man's production arrangement, prompted legal challenges and a public contest involving Lee Soo-man, HYBE, Kakao, and the company. The dispute concerned control, governance, production rights, and the future operating model.
2020
SM Entertainment responds to allegations concerning NCT member Taeyong
Company response
In June 2020, SM Entertainment issued a response to online claims regarding the conduct of NCT member Taeyong during his middle school years. The agency stated that the posts contained unverified and distorted claims. SM Entertainment also said it would consider legal action if such activity continued. The response addressed the online allegations directly without detailing specific incidents, and no further outcomes were stated in the source.
SM Entertainment responded to online claims about NCT member Taeyong's conduct during middle school, saying the posts contained unverified and distorted claims and that it would consider legal action if they continued.
Stated objective. Protect its artist
Company response
Clarification — SM Entertainment
SM Entertainment 今天（24 日）發出官方聲明，說明關於網路上流傳與泰容有關的內容：「在網路上針對泰容國中時代言行發文的當事人表示，自己是為了被害人而出面提出消息，並持續發佈未經確認的片面主張及經過扭曲的內容。」
Source excerpt
SM Entertainment 今天（24 日）發出官方聲明，說明關於網路上流傳與泰容有關的內容：「在網路上針對泰容國中時代言行發文的當事人表示，自己是為了被害人而出面提出消息，並持續發佈未經確認的片面主張及經過扭曲的內容。」
SM 表示若類似行徑持續發生，將採取法律手段、對發文者提出有關毀損名譽的告訴；若有其他人也散佈謠言或重製相關內容、以惡意留言攻擊泰容及其家人等等，SM 亦將採取法律行動來處理。
On August 23, a Korean netizen claiming to be Lucas’s ex-girlfriend uploaded a post on her social media and accused him of gaslighting and being a gold digger.
2020
SM Entertainment responds to Black Mamba video similarity allegations
Company response
SM Entertainment addressed allegations that scenes in aespa's "Black Mamba" music video resembled other artwork. The company said it had contacted the artist and company mentioned in connection with the scenes, explained its planning intentions and the group's story, and said they understood the process and had no objections to the scenes. The video had faced allegations of similarities to other works.
SM Entertainment said it contacted the artist and company mentioned in connection with scenes in aespa’s “Black Mamba” music video, explained its planning intentions and group story, and said they understood the process and had no objections to the scenes. The video had faced allegations of similarities to other artwork.
Company response
Clarification — SM Entertainment
We contacted the artist and company that are being mentioned related to some scenes in the aespa ‘Black Mamba’ music video, and we spoke with them while explaining our planning intentions and [the group’s] world story.
Source excerpt
SM Entertainment has responded to a controversy over aespa’s music video for their debut single “Black Mamba.”
On December 22, the agency stated, “We contacted the artist and company that are being mentioned related to some scenes in the aespa ‘Black Mamba’ music video, and we spoke with them while explaining our planning intentions and [the group’s] world story.”
There were allegations that the video appeared to have plagiarized work by German visual artist Timo Helgert (such as in the scene where a flower garden grows in a subway car and another where a large snake moves through the subway) and the virtual girl group K/DA (including a neon-colored monster baring its teeth).