The 'SM Employees Council,' which consists of 208 currently employed staff members at SM Entertainment, issued a statement in support of the current management.

On February 17, the 'SM Employee Council' sent an email to all employees with a statement titled, "Stop the hostile M&A of HYBE that is siding with illegal, tax-evading Lee Soo Man."

In the statement released via email, the SM Employees Council said, "As former executive producer Lee Soo Man was in danger of being exposed for his illegal acts and tax evasion activities, he sold his stock to a competitor that he used to denigrate, and ran away."

The council continued, "We declare that the SM Culture cannot be subordinated to HYBE's capitalism. We actively support and encourage co-CEOs Lee Sung Soo and Tak Young Jun along with the SM 3.0 multi-production plan. We demand stronger protection so that our fans and artists are not hurt."

The council concluded by saying, "Lee Soo Man abandoned SM and Pink Blood (a nickname for SM fans) and ran away. We will remain and protect SM and Pink Blood." The council expressed that the various issues surrounding the company won't shake their strong will.

The 208 incumbent employees who signed the statement account for half of all the employees at SM Entertainment. It has been revealed that there are more employees applying to be part of the council despite the deadline for the application having passed.

The SM Employee Council stated, "The SM Employee Council has been created by the employees who were used by Lee Soo Man. The council was created in hopes to improve SM and protect the unique culture of SM."