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13th Oct 2014 from TwitLonger

[TRANS] Exclusive survey - Chinese's Media Analysis of Kris' (WYF) and Luhan's case

Sohu entertainment news
On 15th of May 2014, South Korean boy group EXO's Chinese member Wu Yi Fan formally proposed termination of contract with SM. On the 10th of October 2014, another Chinese member Luhan, with the same reason, proposed for contract termination with SM. In a short period of 5 months, this group has gone from its peak to facing a huge crisis, and Luhan's termination has also led to SM's shares to drop rapidly within a day. The two contract terminations are seen as simply the artist themselves wishing for termination of contract, but SM has released a statement stating that they think "there is someone involved behind the scenes". Sohu entertainment interviewed the parties about Wu Yi Fan and Luhan's contract terminations with an in-depth analysis.

[Source] Why is Luhan terminating his contract?
EXO, in just a short period of 5 months, has had 2 members file for contract termination. After gaining so much honour, awards and high popularity, a misfortune has happened, it was unexpected for everyone. However, carefully thinking back, everything seems reasonable. Hangeng had also filed for contract termination during Super Junior's greatest era of <Sorry Sorry>.

From Hangeng to Wu Yi Fan to Luhan, from the demands in their termination, it's not hard to see what they are dissatisfied with in SM, mainly "unfair treatment", "income inequality", "work load intensity causing health problems" and so on. But further on, these popular members' real reason for conflict is: the company doesn't provide enough resources, limiting the personal development of members.

After their successful period last year, this year the company is still planning activities for the group as a whole, the members, especially the Chinese members' personal activities have been severely restricted. It is understood that before Wu Yi Fan terminated his contract, nearly 15 films have casted him, but SM had rejected all of them. Luhan had received high popularity throughout all of the Asia region, but for personal activities, SM only helped him obtain a supporting role in the movie <Back to 20>. At the same, the Korean members of the same group were able to perform in musicals and film movies and dramas. This unfair distribution of resources, easily leads to psychological imbalance between members and fans, resulting in contract termination.

[People] Termination, who's responsible?
Luhan is a native Chinese child, even though Wu Yi Fan holds a Canadian passport, most of his relatives all live in China. These years, after becoming famous in Korea as an idol, the number of people looking for them naturally increased.

One fan told Sohu reporters that these years, Wu Yi Fan's mother had always been helping him with his activities. On the 15th of May, after Wu Yi Fan suddenly left the group, his mother had been seen going to 乐华公司 (Le Hua Company) to talk about cooperation. Also when Wu Yi Fan attended a charity dinner, some people had taken photos of the banquet seating which had the name card "Wu Yi Fan's mother".

Where as the key figure in Luhan's termination is his good friend "Lao Gao". Because of contract termination, Luhan needed an external voice and someone who could contact the company, and that person was Lao Gao. After the media exposed his termination proposal, the news was confirmed by Lao Gao, showing the importance of him to Luhan.

Luhan and Lao Gao's circumstances easily make people think of that year with Hangeng and Sun Le. When Hangeng filed for termination, he played an important role. After Hangeng terminated his contract, Sun Le became Hangeng's manager.

[Conspiracy theories] Who is involved "behind the scenes" with Luhan?
Guess 1: "golden master" or "disk access man"?
After Luhan proposed for termination, SM responded by saying that there is "someone involved behind the scenes" manipulating the situation.

The first reaction of most people, "someone involved behind the scenes" is probably referring to someone who is willing to pay for damages for contract termination. According to news on the Internet, Luhan's next company is 欢瑞世纪 (Huan Rui Shi Ji), and that the new company is allowing for him to participate in 诛仙 (Zhu Xian) and 盗墓笔记 (Dao Mu Bi Ji). But it had been denied by Huan Rui Shi Ji.

Wu Yi Fan left a few months before Luhan did, but so far, the people "involved behind the scenes" have not surfaced. There is a saying that Wu Yi Fan has already signed separately as a singer and actor, singing contract signed with 乐华 (Le Hua), while acting contract signed with 华谊 (Hua Yi). Le Hua denied this to Sohu entertainment about this saying, and Wu Yi Fan has no confirmation with Hua Yi over this matter as well. In addition, it is rumoured that a newly established 阿里影业 (Ali pictures) has spoken, claiming that they will take in both EXO members.

Although it is uncertain which company is Luhan and Wu Yi Fan's gold master, but one thing is clear, if they want to sign, there's plenty of places they can go to.

[Roadmap] Luhan leaving resolution
During Wu Yi Fan and Luhan's termination process, it was discovered that their plan to leave is in fact similar, this similarly makes people suspect if they both hired the same PR.

Method 1: disappearing during activities in China
Wu Yi Fan: 11th May, EXO 12 members set to showcase their new album <Overdose> in Shanghai. Fans were also immersed in the joy of their newly released album, while also looking forward to their upcoming concert on 24th of May. It was on the 12th, when they were returning to Korea, nobody saw Wu Yi Fan.
Luhan: 4th of September 2014, EXO 11 members arrived in Changsha for a recording of Hunan Satellite TV's Mid-Autumn festival. That night, besides Luhan, the 10 members of EXO had appeared at the airport, going back to Korea. Because there was a prior incident with Wu Yi Fan, Luhan learned to "flee", for the news of termination would spread rapidly.

Method 2: through the media, report that health condition is not good
Wu Yi Fan: 28th of May, Wu Yi Fan was seen at a hospital in Beijing in the cardiology department.
Luhan: 9th of September, Luhan was seen going to a hospital in Beijing. 11th of September, Luhan apologised to his fans in Thailand about not being able to attend the concert due to excessive exhaustion.

Method 3: brainwashing fans "SM unfair treatment"
Wu Yi Fan: when Wu Yi Fan left, fans wrote articles on "SM's unfair treatment towards Wu Yi Fan", using the fact that SM rejected his filming opportunities as evidence.
Luhan: Luhan's fans wrote articles and posted photos about how Luhan attended the concert even though he was very sick.

Method 4: submit lawsuit for contract termination
Note, Wu Yi Fan and Luhan's lawyer are the same, this is also the lawyer that helped Hangeng with his lawsuit.

The difference between the two is that Wu Yi Fan used a quick and "flash" approach where as Luhan took a long time before he filed for termination. Looking at the time, Wu Yi Fan went from "missing" to filing contract termination in just 3 days and chose to do this before their first concert, causing fans and EXO members to not be able to react to this. Even though he explained it was due to poor health, but EXO members and fans expressed that there aren't many who understand. Shortly after, he also started filming for a movie, which created more doubt. According to Sohu entertainment, it is understood that he had to make a quick leave due to the upcoming filming for the movie with Xu Jinglei, but SM had been reluctant to let him film, with unsuccessful negotiations, it lead to Wu Yi Fan making this move.

Learning from the experiences of Wu Yi Fan, Luhan gave the members and fans some time to understand his actions. After not attending the Thailand concert, he persistently competed the two performances in Beijing. Some fans told Sohu reporters that "at that time, I already thought that he could be terminating his contract, because at Beijing the members continuously kept thanking Luhan." In addition, SM had already expected Luhan's termination. Not long ago, SM expressed that on the 25th, EXO will make a comeback, it will not be impacted. According to informed sources, Luhan wanted to leave around the same time as Wu Yi Fan, but he wasn't in a rush, he chose the appropriate time to formally propose this, in fact, Luhan has been planning for termination for 6 months.

In the current situation, Luhan is currently resting, and has not given any response to the various things being spread online. Fans were also worried that the film <Back to 20> that Luhan filmed before, will be affected, but the officials posted on weibo stating that the movie will not be affected in any way, and also congratulate Luhan on returning home, also uploading pictures of Luhan on set. Luhan who is currently resting, may be able to use this film to have a new start.

Cr. 搜狐娱乐
Trans by stacey_112 @ sment_exo

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