SM Entertainment Seizes CBX Assets Worth Rp30 Billion, Contract Dispute Escalates

CBX (Doc. Ist)

WartaGate.com – The dispute between Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin (CBX) and SM Entertainment has escalated once again.

After previously clashing over their exclusive contracts, the conflict has now entered a new phase with a surprising legal move. SM Entertainment has reportedly seized assets belonging to the three EXO members, with the total value estimated at around Rp30 billion.

According to a report by Biz Hankook on Wednesday (February 11), the seizure was carried out over two days, from February 9 to 10, 2026. The action was described as an effort to collect a 10 percent payment obligation from CBX’s earnings to SM Entertainment, as stipulated in a contract agreement covering the 2023–2024 period.

Under the contract, Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin were allowed to carry out individual and group activities under their new agency, INB100. However, they were still required to pay 10 percent of their revenue to SM as part of a management agreement.

SM Entertainment claims that this obligation has not been fulfilled. As a result, several of their assets were seized as collateral. The affected properties reportedly include Chen’s housing deposit, Baekhyun’s apartment in Guri-si, Gyeonggi-do, and Xiumin’s apartment in Hannam-dong, Seoul.

The total amount claimed by SM is said to reach 2.6 billion won. The breakdown includes approximately 300 million won from Chen, 1.6 billion won from Baekhyun, and 700 million won from Xiumin.

However, the seizure is temporary. The measure was taken to prevent the possible transfer of assets or withdrawal of funds from the properties while legal proceedings are ongoing. Local authorities approved the seizure due to concerns over potential asset concealment or transfer.

So far, INB100 has not issued an official statement regarding the asset seizure. Their silence has left fans increasingly anxious and curious about how the situation will unfold.

The dispute between CBX and SM Entertainment began when the trio filed a complaint alleging that SM had violated their exclusive contracts and lacked transparency in revenue distribution. The disagreement eventually led to renegotiations, resulting in a new agreement that included the 10 percent revenue-sharing clause with SM.

Despite that settlement, tensions appear far from resolved, as evidenced by this latest development. The legal conflict has also impacted group activities. The heated situation reportedly caused CBX to miss several EXO schedules, including comeback promotions, fueling concern among fans.

Now, the public and fans are awaiting official clarification from both INB100 and SM Entertainment regarding the next steps. Many hope the two sides can reach a fair resolution without further harming the artists’ careers or unsettling EXO’s loyal fanbase.