SHINee member Taemin has ended his exclusive contract with Big Planet Made Entertainment after nearly two years, amid reports of payment delays and internal issues. The agency confirmed the mutual agreement on February 24, 2026. Taemin reportedly covered some staff salaries from his own pocket, earning praise for his loyalty.
On February 24, 2026, Big Planet Made Entertainment announced the conclusion of its exclusive contract with SHINee's Taemin, which began in March 2024 following his departure from SM Entertainment. The partnership lasted approximately one year and ten months, focusing on his solo activities.
According to reports from The Fact and Sports Chosun, the termination came ahead of schedule due to delays in settlement payments to Taemin and internal management problems at the agency, headed by CEO Cha Ga Won. An industry insider told The Fact that Cha signed a contract with an external company without Taemin's consent, described as a 'big mistake.' BPME became part of One Hundred, another label under Cha, in December 2023.
Amid these issues, Taemin personally financed part of his staff's salaries in recent months to maintain their work amid unstable conditions from unpaid salary accusations against BPME. This gesture, revealed during the contract termination process, highlighted his sense of responsibility and loyalty to his long-time team. Netizens praised him, with comments like 'Crazy. So cool of him' and 'The company be crazy, he be amazing' circulating online.
The agency stated: 'We would like to inform you that our exclusive contract with Taemin has concluded. We ask for your continued support and interest in Taemin’s future activities even after the contract’s termination.' Taemin has remained silent on the specifics. Broader financial difficulties at One Hundred have affected other artists, including Lee Seung Gi, EXO's Chen, Xiumin, and Baekhyun, and THE BOYZ, with owed payments totaling tens of billions of won. Industry attention now turns to Taemin's next steps, whether joining a new agency or pursuing independent activities.
