[Exclusive] SECHS KIES Joins YG with a Contract that Ensures Special Treatment Similar to that of BIGBANG
[일간스포츠=엄동진 기자] It was a shock. It has been so long since such a big issue came out in Korea’s music scene. I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard the news; the news that the 90’s idol group SECHS KIES signed a contract with YG Entertainment, the biggest entertainment agency in Korea.
First came the news that SECHS KIES was going to make a comeback and then that their comeback was going to take place on Infinite Challenge. SECHS KIES had a surprise concert on the TV show, and now, they even have signed a contract with YG. But this was all somewhat unexpected.
There was no link between YG and SECHS KIES except for the fact that a member the group, LEE JAE JIN, is YANG HYUN SUK’s brother-in-law. But SECHS KIES wanted YG, and YG readily took them under its wing. There were rumors about the terms of the contract, but after the initial press report, the signing of the contract went smoothly. This shows that there were no disagreements over the contract terms.
Why did YANG HYUN SUK sign a contract with SECHS KIES? Why did SECHS KIES want YG? Everyone is curious, but both sides have not yet spoken. I wasn’t able to interview YANG HYUN SUK directly, but I did get the chance to talk to a high-ranking company official of YG about this surprising contract.
Q : Is SECHS KIES’ contract the same as those of other YG artists?
A : Yes, it’s the same.
Q : Can you tell us about the contract terms?
A: I can’t tell you the details, but I heard that SECHS KIES’ contract is based on BIGBANG’s contract. The terms are similar. I think this is because they are both boy groups, and so the contents of the contract are very similar. It’s also because BIGBANG’s contract is very advantageous to the group as they have renewed the contract three times and as much as 10 years have passed since their debut. So, SECHS KIES members heard us explaining the terms of the contract for an hour and then signed it without any hesitation.
Q : I’ve read reports that in the case of EUN JI WON, his previous agency will still be managing his solo activities.
A : Well, for better coordination, it is better for YG to manage the individual schedules of SECHS KIES members. But I heard that it was YANG HYUN SUK’s suggestion to grant autonomy to the members regarding their individual activities. EUN JI WON and JANG SU WON have been working with people in their previous agencies for a long time, so YANG HYUN SUK took into consideration that it would be hard for them to sign a contract with YG. He probably thought that YG could discuss and work together with their previous agencies. As for the members that weren’t under an agency, YG is willing to manage their individual activities if they want.
Q : YG is a hip hop label and SECHS KIES is a dance group. Would this work?
A : SECHS KIES debuted in 1997, and that was when YG’s JINUSEAN and 1TYM debuted. SECHS KIES’ music back then was not hip hop, but their fashion style and dance contained characteristics of hip hop. They had considerable amounts of rap in their songs too. Hip hop is a culture and not just a music genre. After the disbandment of SECHS KIES, EUN JI WON hung around with people in the hip hop music scene and released an album. What he did wasn’t far from hip hop. YANG HYUN SUK is a person who strongly believes in bringing about new change, and he wouldn’t have signed a contract with SECHS KIES just because he wanted to hear the music that they did 16 years ago. SECHS KIES wouldn’t have joined YG just to do the same music either.
Q : But still, YANG HYUN SUK must have signed the contract because LEE JAE JIN is his brother-in-law.
A : That must have had an influence. To YANG HYUN SUK, LEE JAE JIN is family, and so he probably had a soft spot for SECHS KIES. There were many idol groups in the 90’s, but SECHS KIES is the first and the only group to join YG. When SECHS KIES first appeared on Infinite Challenge, YANG HYUN SUK would often say to YG producers, “I hope everything turns out well for SECHS KIES”. It’s because he heard from LEE JAE JIN how hard things were for SECHS KIES. They didn’t have managers to give them a ride to studios. No stylists, no practice rooms, and even no music recordings that they could sing to on stage. He felt so bad that he couldn’t help them. The Infinite Challenge’s SECHS KIES episodes were shot in great secrecy, so if YANG HYUN SUK started helping them, word would go out that SECHS KIES is making a comeback. He has such a great leadership and incredible drive once he makes a decision, but he is very careful when it comes to things that could harm others even a little bit. So, that’s why he couldn’t help them directly.
Q : So, he wanted to help and that led to the contract?
A : SECHS KIES and YANG HYUN SUK had three meetings, but EUN JI WON couldn’t come to the first two because of the shooting for New Journey to the West. The day when Infinite Challenge’s last episode on SECHS KIES was aired, SECHS KIES and YANG HYUN SUK had their third meeting, and it was the first meeting for EUN JI WON. At the meeting, EUN JI WON strongly expressed that he wants SECHS KIES to sign a contract with YG. I think it’s because he felt responsible as the leader of the group. It was so hard getting them together, and he just wanted the best for them. YANG HYUN SUK heard him out, and exactly ten days after, they signed the contract. Afterwards, they had dinner and really bonded.
Q : The last obstacle is KO JI YONG.
A : I think it will work out. YANG HYUN SUK said he is going to meet him soon. From what I heard, KO JI YONG is not that negative about participating in SECHS KIES. Of course, he is currently a businessman, so he won’t be able sign a contract or join SECHS KIES in all of their schedules. We’re thinking maybe he could participate in one-time events such as concerts, shooting ads, or making albums.
Q : I know this is a touchy subject, but there are some who think that SECHS KIES is not a very profitable group.
A : I think SECHS KIES members are also very well aware of that fact. Infinite Challenge has such an impact on the public, and that’s why SECHS KIES became a big issue. But when you look at the singers that appeared on the show’s Saturday Saturday Is A Singer episodes or groups that have reunited, there’s clearly a limit. To be more frank, for YG, nurturing new singers would be a better investment in the longer term. But if he was only trying to take advantage of the big issue that SECHS KIES has created, YANG HYUN SUK would not have signed a contract with them. YANG HYUN SUK could have just helped them. I don’t know exactly what’s going on in his head, but I think he is probably more concerned about how to upgrade SECHS KIES, who have been on a standstill for the last 16 years, rather than whether this investment would succeed or fail.
Q : Last question. As I have mentioned before, there must have been many reasons, but what was YANG HYUN SUK’s biggest reason to sign a contract with SECHS KIES?
A : I’m not sure whether it’s ok to say this. But I had a drink with YANG HYUN SUK a little while ago, and what he said really touched my heart as I used to be a reporter when Seo Taiji and Boys and SECHS KIES were still active. YANG HYUN SUK told me that he was watching the Infinite Challenge’s third episode on SECHS KIES, and when they took the eye masks off the members, tears came to his eyes. He told me that it was the fans that made him cry not because of the fact that all the members of SECHS KIES were together. Back then, the fans were young students, but now they must become mothers or busy working. But they didn’t forget SECHS KIES and came to see them and cheer for them. That must have been very touching for YANG HYUN SUK, and I get it 100%. From his perspective, it must have been very emotional and probably brought back many memories. Seo Taiji and Boys was disbanded in 1996, and SECHS KIES debuted in 1997. They weren’t active at the same time, but they both had fans who have now become grown-ups. It’s not easy to wait for 17 years. 17 years is a long time. I think this is why YANG HYUN SUK decided to sign a contract with SECHS KIES.
2016. 5. 12.
