FNC To Produce New Idol Group In China As Other Korean Labels Struggle Through Lawsuits With Chinese Stars

FNC Entertainment, known for popular groups like FT Island, CNBLUE, and AOA, is venturing into China with a new idol reality training program.

On August 25, OSEN reported that FNC Entertainment teamed up with Baidu and iQIY, China's largest portal sites, to create the new television series, titled King of Pop. Twenty contestants were selected from auditions all over China. Furthermore, the competition is say to include training missions as they narrow down the members of their new idol group. The contestants will be narrowed down to seven members and the group is slated to debut at the end of the year after receiving training from FNC's Global Training Center in China.

Meanwhile, as FNC makes their move into China many Korean fans are still reeling over SM Entertainment and Woollim Entertainment's current legal disputes with their former Chinese members. In response to the announcement of King of Pop Korean fans responded hesitantly. "Don't end up like SM and make sure you keep an eye on the Chinese members. Who knows when they'll betray you," one Korean commenter warned as translated by Netizenbuzz.

"They're debuting in China but haven't they learned anything from the examples in SM?" another user questioned.

Additionally, many Korean netizens also expressed their distaste for FNC moving into the Chinese market instead of funding their current idols. "Look at FNC spending all the huge cash they've been raking in lately," a user quipped while another very pointedly said, "Stop wasting resources and spend some time on your own artists."

SM Entertainment and Woollim Entertainment both have had Chinese idols leave Korea while under contract to pursue individual activities. SM Entertainment is currently enthralled in three contract cancellation lawsuits with former EXO member Kris, Luhan, and Tao. Woollim Entertainment recently announced that they will pursue legal action against TASTY, who left for China in July.

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FNC Entertainment
SM Entertainment
Woollim Entertainment
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