Hangeng seeks termination of contract with SM

Hangeng, the only Chinese member of K-pop group Super Junior, has asked for termination of his contract with SM Entertainment.

A report on major Chinese website Sina.com on Monday broke the news that the 25-year-old singer recently filed a petition to the Seoul Central District Court, requesting for his contract with SM be invalidated.

The report said Hangeng's legal representative could not reveal the details but explained that the singer had been restricted from pursuing individual activities and did not agree with how his agency works.

Hangeng, who debuted as a member of the 13-member boy band in 2005, has also been part of Super Junior-M -- a popular sub-unit of Super Junior which focuses their activities in the Chinese market.

SM said it will put in efforts to reach an agreement with the singer for the future of Super Junior, currently one of the most popular K-pop acts in Asia.

SM is currently in a similar legal dispute with three members of their boy band TVXQ -- Xiah Junsu, Hero Jaejoong and Micky Yoochun asked a court in late July to have thier exclusive contract with SM nullified.

The Seoul Central District court granted the three members partial victory of their request in October, saying that the agency cannot not interfere in their individual activities.

Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr