THE BOYZ Legal Dispute Escalates After Court Approves Asset Freezes

A legal dispute involving THE BOYZ and their former agency, One Hundred Label, has moved into a more serious phase after a court approved provisional asset freezes against two members of the group. The ruling adds a financial enforcement layer to a conflict that had already centered on exclusive contracts, settlement payments, and the future obligations of both sides.

The Seoul Eastern District Court approved the agency’s request for a provisional seizure on property tied to Younghoon, including an apartment in Seoul’s Seongdong District. The claim connected to that order is reported to be worth about 500 million won, roughly 339,000 U.S. dollars. A separate provisional seizure request involving fellow member Q was also approved, expanding the immediate impact of the case beyond one individual member.

A provisional seizure does not itself decide the final outcome of a lawsuit. Instead, it is a legal measure used to preserve assets while a broader financial claim is being argued. In practice, it can restrict how the targeted property is transferred or disposed of until the court reaches later decisions, making it a significant pressure point even before the main lawsuit is resolved.

Why The Asset Freeze Matters

One Hundred Label’s position is that the asset-freeze orders are only the first step in a larger case. The agency is pursuing a main lawsuit reportedly valued at 8.8 billion won, or about 5.97 million U.S. dollars, against members of THE BOYZ. Its legal side has indicated that it is still checking the locations of other members’ real estate and may seek additional provisional seizure orders in stages.

The agency argues that signing bonuses paid to the members should be treated as advance payments linked to the full term of their exclusive contracts. Under that claim, if the contracts were not fulfilled through the agreed period, the remaining value of those bonuses should be returned. The company is framing the money as unjust enrichment, while the members’ side has been challenging the agency’s conduct and the legal basis for continuing the contracts.

The dispute did not begin with the latest property orders. Earlier this year, nine members of THE BOYZ, excluding New, sought an injunction to suspend the validity of their exclusive contracts. Their legal argument included claims that the agency had failed to meet obligations related to settlement earnings. The court granted the members’ injunction request, giving them an important interim victory and weakening the agency’s ability to enforce the contracts while the wider dispute continued.

The Members Push Back

The new asset-freeze orders have also been contested. The legal team representing the nine members reportedly filed an objection with the court on July 13, challenging the provisional seizure. That objection means the court process is still active on multiple fronts: the members are resisting the freezes while the agency continues to pursue its financial claims through the main lawsuit.

For fans and industry observers, the case is notable because it combines two of the most sensitive issues in K-pop management: contract control and artist compensation. Settlement disputes often expose tensions over how revenue is calculated, when earnings are paid, and what obligations remain when trust between artists and an agency breaks down. When asset freezes enter the picture, the dispute becomes more concrete because it can affect personal property before final liability has been determined.

One Hundred Label has maintained that the injunction ruling was not a final decision on the full dispute. The agency has also signaled that it intends to keep pursuing recovery of the amount it says it is owed, while responding to objections from the members. That stance suggests the case may continue through a lengthy legal process rather than a quick settlement.

The members’ next steps will likely focus on limiting or overturning the provisional seizure orders and strengthening their position in the broader lawsuit. The agency, meanwhile, is expected to argue that it needs asset preservation to protect its claim while the main case proceeds. Until the court addresses those competing arguments, the dispute will remain unresolved, with both sides facing legal and reputational stakes.

Although the immediate order affects Younghoon and Q, the agency’s stated plan to pursue additional requests means other members could become involved in similar proceedings. That possibility raises the stakes for the entire group and keeps the case in focus as one of the more closely watched Korean entertainment contract disputes of the year.