'Street Woman Fighter 3' (hereinafter 'SWF3') nationwide tour concert canceled some regional performances due to conflicts among the performers.
The production company said in an official statement on the 16th, "Due to various circumstances, including issues related to artist grants, it has become practically difficult to hold the performances as scheduled," adding, "We explored various internal measures, but judged that smooth progress was difficult, and reluctantly canceled the Changwon, Daegu and Daejeon performances."
Accordingly, the Changwon performance on the 21st, the Daegu performance on Oct. 3 and the Daejeon performance on Oct. 11 were canceled. The production company said, "We sincerely apologize to the audience who waited for the performances," and "Individual messages with information on ticket cancellations and refunds will be sent." It added, "We will do our best to ensure the remaining regional performances are successfully held."
OSAKA Ojo Gang won the final victory on Mnet's World of Street Woman Fighter 3, which ended in July. Accordingly, they were scheduled to meet fans by attending Mnet's World of Street Woman Fighter 3 nationwide tour "The Real Stage," held at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul on the 6th and 7th, but only six members took the stage excluding Ibuki. Production company Route59 announced, "Ibuki reneged on the agreement and notified us of her nonattendance."
That same night, Ibuki wrote on her personal social media that "as an artist I was forced into a one-sided contract in a situation where I had no say," accusing the production company of abuse of power. The production company rebutted, "The Ojo Gang manager demanded conditions that were not shared with the members and blocked the specification of the grants contract," and "several negotiations broke down."
Members Lu, Hana, Kyoka, Junna, Minami and Uwa also revealed on the official account, "Numerous problems occurred, such as the manager not paying grants or handling amounts opaquely. Even after the payment deadline passed, salaries were not paid, and no justifiable amount was presented, with no response to the members' inquiries. Ibuki apologized to the six and said she would dismiss the manager, but the promise was not kept," they exposed.
Ibuki said, "When I tried to check individually with the members, I was asked to join a group call, and the 6-to-1 dynamic was already formed. I was told I was not qualified to be leader. One reason was the unpaid grants issue. Even before the final payment deadline, I asked the manager to transfer the money in advance and I gave up additional compensation as leader so that all members would be paid equally. All payments, including grants and prize money, were completed," she emphasized.
She added, "My only wish is one: to protect Ojo Gang and for everyone to stand on stage together," and said, "Even after the manager stepped down, problems with Route59 continued. My mental state exceeded its limits, and I could not endure the isolation created by Route59 and the pressure coming through channels, so I was under severe stress and hospitalized in a mental clinic in Japan. A doctor advised me not to contact Route59 or the members directly."
In the end, with the positions of leader Ibuki and the six members sharply at odds, the performance disruption and the team's trust seem to be fractured. Fans' attention is focused on how this conflict, which expanded beyond simple nonattendance to accounting and operational issues, will be resolved.
With the long-awaited nationwide tour repeatedly disrupted, disappointment and regret are growing among fans. Attention is on whether the production company can safely carry out the remaining schedule and whether the conflict between Ibuki and the Ojo Gang members can be resolved.
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