Were these 5 K-pop groups really ‘destroyed’ by their agencies? CLC and f(x) have been inactive for years, while Miss A, Pristin and B.A.P – who once beat BTS at the MTV EMAs – disbanded
![K-pop bands CLC and B.A.P had potential, but were arguably mismanaged by their companies. Photos: @cube_clc_official, @bapofficials/Instagram](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/768x768/public/d8/images/canvas/2022/04/21/5e016910-37f2-40d3-81c1-e4dd04bcc98e_03efcb5b.jpg?itok=BoL996A9&v=1650493310)
- K-pop idols often face mismanagement despite their hard work – B.A.P was on a roll but the awful conditions led them to file a lawsuit against TS Entertainment at its peak
- CLC and f(x) are technically not disbanded but have been MIA for years, while Miss A became known as ‘Suzy and the others’ as she was the only member who got promoted
Here are five groups who were arguably destroyed by the companies that managed them.
1. B.A.P
![B.A.P filed a lawsuit against its agency in 2014. Photo: @bapofficials/Instagram B.A.P filed a lawsuit against its agency in 2014. Photo: @bapofficials/Instagram](https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2022/04/21/56850203-0b0b-46b8-8d33-7adf5cda4496_ee8a2991.jpg)
K-pop artists filing lawsuits against their agencies actually happens quite often, but B.A.P’s case is one of the most mentioned. The group filed to nullify their contracts in 2014, claiming severe underpayment and harsh working conditions. The group then went on hiatus for over a year and, although TS Entertainment denied the claims, they were soon proved to be true as several other artists filed lawsuits afterwards, eventually leading to the agency’s closure in 2021.
![B.A.P won best Korean act in 2014, beating BTS and Beast. Photo: @bapofficials/Instagram B.A.P won best Korean act in 2014, beating BTS and Beast. Photo: @bapofficials/Instagram](https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2022/04/21/aca90bd5-5ac3-4b43-85ad-cfb9b0248ee3_4ddecf7b.jpg)
Aside from the lawsuit itself, what took a toll on the group was the fact that its hiatus came right at the height of success. Its “First Sensibility” album in early 2014 topped the Billboard World Album Chart and it even took an MTV EMA win for best Korean act in 2014, beating popular artists like BTS and Beast.
2. f(x)
![f(x) in their early days – the group has not been active since 2016. Photo: SM Entertainment f(x) in their early days – the group has not been active since 2016. Photo: SM Entertainment](https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2022/04/21/86f36ed2-30ed-46a2-86a4-47785cb79997_cb43550a.jpg)
It might be a bit harsh to say SM Entertainment’s girl group was “destroyed”, but fans have felt that way about the matter for a while. Though the group hasn’t officially disbanded, its last release was in 2015 and it has been on hiatus since 2016.