Some former and current employees of SM Entertainment spoke with media outlet Chosun Biz on March 10 and revealed that they have begun seeking support from the National Labor Relations Commission for unfair, unlawful treatment. 

According to Chosun Biz, not long after Lee Soo Man's producing contract through LIKE Holdings expired in October of last year, employees who had supported Lee Soo Man were placed 'on call'. Kwon Young Min, who aided Lee Soo Man as a business secretary, was placed 'on call' some time last month. Kwon Young Min has worked with Lee Soo Man since he was first hired by SM Entertainment in 2017.

In his interview with Chosun Biz, Kwon revealed that he was asked to accompany Lee Soo Man on his business trip to the United States until early January of this year. But very soon afterward, right around when the friction between Lee Soo Man and SM's current management surfaced, employees from general secretary affairs began receiving the cold shoulder. Many of them did not receive annual evaluations or bonuses, not to mention the entire 19th floor of SM Entertainment except for a general lobby and a general meeting room were closed down. This floor housed the offices of many of these employees who had worked with Lee Soo Man (It was also the floor which housed Lee Soo Man's office).

Another employee from general secretary affairs, 'A', commented, "There has never been another instance of secretary affairs employees being placed 'on call' because the executive they were managing left the company. The company claims that we were all given a choice to transfer to a different branch, but ultimately, we were placed 'on call' without proper explanation, which I believe violates my employee rights."

Based on the reasons above, Kwon and 'A' have recently filed claims with the National Labor Relations Commission to seek support. 

Other employees, according to Kwon and 'A', were directly asked to choose whether they would remain at the company and cut off all ties with Lee Soo Man, or leave the company. One such employee, 'B', sided with Lee Soo Man and gladly resigned. 

What's more is that one director who refused to agree to, and sign, the statement released by SM Entertainment on February 10 was fired for going against SM's current management. Previously, co-CEOs Lee Sung Soo and Tak Young Joon released a statement claiming that all employees at SM Entertainment holding chief or directorial positions were strongly against HYBE's hostile acquisition. In order to validate this statement, Lee Sung Soo and Tak Young Joon asked employees holding chief or directorial positions to sign and agree to the statement by the evening before its public release. 

According to one SM affiliate, "Most of those holding chief or directorial positions received no clear explanation for what was happening except for the information released by media outlets, but suddenly, the management was demanding that they all sign a joint statement. The majority of them likely succumbed to pressure and signed, since there wasn't much of a choice."

Only one out of 26 refused to sign the statement, and thus, 'C' was fired on the morning of February 10. 

Meanwhile, companies found to have coerced employees into resigning, or placed employees 'on call' without valid reasons, may face repercussions for violating labor laws.