Agencies to appeal as court suspends Fantasy Boys’ contracts over "breakdown of trust"

The agencies Funky Studio and PocketDol Studio have announced their decision to appeal a court ruling that granted an injunction to suspend the exclusive contracts of 6 members of the group Fantasy Boys. On April 18, 2026, the agencies expressed deep regret over the decision, labeling the court's reasoning a "leap in legal logic" and vowing to resolve the matter through the upcoming main lawsuit. While the court primarily cited a lack of specificity in settlement data and missing receipts as grounds for a "breakdown of trust," the underlying conflict has exposed a series of alarming allegations regarding the agency's operational failures and a disregard for the members' basic welfare.

One of the most widely discussed aspects of this case is the "SOS hand signal" allegedly made by members like Kaedan in past promotional content. While there has been no official legal confirmation or a direct statement from the members verifying that these gestures were intentional pleas for rescue, the signals became a focal point for fans who grew concerned over the group's well-being. These suspicions were later bolstered by substantiated reports that the group’s living conditions had deteriorated significantly. In late 2025, it was revealed that the electricity at the dormitory had been disconnected due to unpaid bills, and members were reportedly forced to wear heavy padding jackets indoors because of a non-functional boiler. Furthermore, the agencies were accused of negligence regarding the residency status of foreign members like Kaedan and Hikaru, failing to extend their visas in a timely manner.

This pattern of litigation is not a first for PocketDol Studio, which has faced a string of contract disputes involving its artists. The boy group BAE173 saw members Nam Do Hyon and Doha successfully seek to terminate their contracts under similar circumstances. In the case of Fantasy Boys, the members—who debuted in September 2023 through the MBC audition program 'My Teenage Boy: Fantasy Boys'—allegedly attempted to resolve these issues through a formal demand for corrections in September 2025. When no action was taken, they notified the agency of their contract termination in October 2025. The situation is further complicated by a separate and ongoing 3 billion won damages lawsuit against Yu Jun Won, the 1st place winner of the same audition program, whose mediation efforts recently failed.

Despite the gravity of the allegations, the agencies maintain that they have made consistent investments in the group's growth and that any issues were merely "administrative deficiencies" rather than a "material breach" of contract. They argue that nullifying long-term agreements over missing paperwork unfairly minimizes the management efforts and financial risks they have undertaken. As the agencies prepare for their appeal, they have pledged to continue supporting the artists' activities, even as they fight to prove their "faithful execution" of the contracts in court. However, the combination of utility cut-offs, visa negligence, and the widely publicized distress signals has placed the agencies under intense scrutiny regarding the fundamental rights and safety of their artists.