EXO ex-member Kris to sign contract with Chinese agency: report

Kris, a former member of K-pop idol group EXO, is about to sign a contract with a Chinese agency, local media outlets reported Tuesday. 

Korean daily Ilgan Sports reported that Kris is to sign a management contract with Hwai Brothers, one of the biggest talent agencies in China. It added that he failed to strike a deal with YUEHUA, the entertainment powerhouse that manages Super Junior’s ex-member Hangeng. 

Kris came under the spotlight when he filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment on May 15. He demanded that his contract be nullified, taking issue with what he called exploitation and unfair treatment by the agency.

Hangeng also filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment in late 2009, claiming his contract was unfair. He signed a contract with YUEHUA to continue his career in China after he won the legal battle. 

Industry watchers have long speculated that Kris would partner up with YUEHUA, as his mother reportedly contacted the company seeking a contract shortly after the 23-year-old idol left the K-pop scene. 

But the two sides failed to reach an agreement, reports said. 

The Chinese-born-Canadian is currently shooting for the romantic flick “Xiao You Qiao Mu,” directed by Korean filmmaker Jo Jin-kyoo, and the Chinese film “Somewhere Only We Know,” directed by Xu Jinglei. 

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)