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Posted by Sophie-Ha Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Which side are SM fans choosing between Kakao and HYBE?

AKP STAFF

Currently, SM Entertainment is amidst a feud over operation and management rights, with the co-CEOs, Lee Sung Soo and Tak Young Jun, at odds with the company founder, Lee Soo Man

The co-CEOs, Lee Sung Soo and Tak Young Jun have sided with Kakao and Align Partners, while Lee Soo Man partnered up with HYBE

On February 10, HYBE announced that it had signed a contract to acquire 14.8% of the 18.46% stake owned by Lee Soo Man and became the sole largest shareholder in SM Entertainment. Meanwhile, Kakao acquired 1.23 million new shares issued by SM in the form of a paid-in capital increase and acquired 9.05% of SM shares. With the acquisition, Kakao became the second largest shareholder in SM.

In this dispute, the majority of SM executives and employees are siding with the current management under co-CEOs Lee Sung Soo and Tak Young Jun. But fans seem to think otherwise.

In a popular online community, fans are sharing their opinions and believe it might be better for SM Entertainment to be taken over by HYBE rather than Kakao.

Netizens commented, "I think it's better that SM goes with HYBE," "I think if Kakao and CJ ENM gets involved, this is going to become a bigger and longer dispute," "I think it would be more beneficial for SM to go with HYBE," "HYBE would be better," "In a fan's perspective, going with HYBE is better," "Well if Kakao and CJ ENM gets shares of SM, there's going to be more differences in operating the company. At least with HYBE, it's going to be one company that leads the operation," "I don't care I just want my favorite group to be protected," and "There are pros and cons in each side."

  1. Bang Si Hyuk
  2. Lee Soo Man
  3. misc.
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oldschool29
oldschool294,509 pts Wednesday, February 15, 2023 6
Wednesday, February 15, 2023

I just feel sick to my stomach thinking about how stressed all the artists must be right now, I hope it gets resolved one way or the other ASAP. I don't feel much loyalty to Lee Soo Man himself, but the fact that they would lose Yoo Young Jin as a vocal coach is worrying. SM's historical strength was their vocal training program. I don't want to see them become average and generic in that department.

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Violetta123
Violetta12320,556 pts Wednesday, February 15, 2023 0
Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Rock vs hard place

11 (+15 / -4)
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