October 16, 2024 – Big Planet Made, the entertainment agency representing SHINee’s Taemin and girl group VIVIZ, has terminated a manager after discovering they used the personal contact details of company staff and artists as collateral to borrow money from illegal lenders. The agency announced the news on Wednesday, following disturbing incidents involving the misuse of approximately 1,200 phone numbers.
"The illegal lenders are sending threatening messages to our employees, and there is a possibility that other individuals in the former manager's network may be contacted as well," the agency said. They added that the matter has been reported to the authorities, and they are taking strong legal action.
Big Planet Made expressed regret over the situation, stating, "We deeply apologize to anyone who has been affected by this. If anyone is contacted regarding this issue, we urge them to report it to the police immediately."
The manager was promptly fired on September 30 after the first threatening call surfaced, and Big Planet Made has been working to contain the fallout. However, further calls have persisted, prompting the agency to make the issue public. The company is seeking to ensure that no further damage occurs and that all parties affected by the former manager's actions are properly supported.
Big Planet Made, founded in 2021 by Cha Ga-won and rapper M.C. Mong, is home to several high-profile artists. The agency is owned by One Hundred Label, which also manages EXO's Baekhyun through its subsidiary, INB100.
This incident follows a recent hack of the agency’s YouTube channels and comes at a sensitive time for the company as it prepares to debut its first girl group, Badvillain.