SM vows legal action against EXO song leak

K-pop boy group EXO’s comeback single has been leaked online, days before its official release, and the group’s agency is threatening legal action against those responsible. 

An audio file of “Overdose,” the title track of the group’s upcoming new album, and a video showing the members practicing the choreography to the song were uploaded on YouTube Thursday, then quickly spread through social media. SM has attempted to retreive all of the videos but has been largely unsuccessful.

EXO. (SM Entertainment)

In a press statement, SM Entertainment, EXO’s agency, said it will take legal action against those who leaked the footage as well as those who spread it. 

“We have requested a police investigation into the leak and will sue, and demand reparation from all those who have illegally posted or spread the footage.”

“Such illegal sharing is a serious case of copyright infringement and criminal activity, and we will take strong measures against it.” 

One of the most popular K-pop acts, EXO comprises 12 members who are separated into two subunits EXO-K and EXO-M. 

“Overdose,” which will be released in both Korean and Mandarin, is expected to unite all 12 members on stage. 

EXO is scheduled to return with the “EXO Comeback Show” at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul on Tuesday, where “Overdose” and its music video will be unveiled. 

The leaked tune is not the completed version of “Overdose,” SM officials said. 

“The leaked video had been filmed for MBC’s music program “Show! Music Core,” and the circulating audio file was extracted from the video,” they said. 

The company released a teaser clip of the music video later Friday. 

By Sohn Ji-young (jiyoung.sohn@heraldcorp.com)

Samsung, Google and homosexuality Rivals take opposing stances on gay issues in the workplace

Perhaps it is not surprising that a gap exists between Silicon Valley IT firms such as Google and Facebook and conventional Korean conglomerates in their perceptions of LGBT ― lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ― issues at the workplace.

Google, for instance, has long supported the LGBT community by holding seminars and conferences on LGBT rights. 

As a case in point, the Internet giant put up a rainbow-colored logo on its website during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi in protest against the Russian government’s anti-gay legislation enacted in 2013. 

To keep up with its headquarters, Google Korea announced last Monday that its employees would participate in this year’s Korea Queer Festival in June.

As the name indicates, the festival is an annual parade attended by thousands of gays and lesbians, and their supporters.

“Since diversity is an important pillar of Google’s corporate culture, we have decided to join the parade,” said Lois Kim, head of corporate communications and public affairs at Google’s Korean office.

“Google will become the first global IT firm that takes part in such an event aimed at promoting fair treatment and equality towards homosexuals in Korea, even though such participation is not an uncommon thing for Silicon Valley-based firms including Facebook and Twitter,” she said. 

Some global IT companies that are supportive of sexual minorities have polices that even encourage LGBT employees to come out of the closet. 

IBM and its Korean office publicly ask LGBT people to apply for jobs at the firm and give them an advantage over others in the company’s employment process.

Credit Suisse Group, a leading global financial services firm, publicizes an LGBT equality index that measures the performance of U.S. companies that support and promote equality for members of the LGBT community.

Don’t ask, don’t tell 

Korean tech giants including Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, however, would not be caught dead dealing with gay issues. 

“Samsung does not have any support policy for LGBT employees, but the company respects the rights of every individual,” said Kim Jung-suk, director of Samsung Electronics’ corporate communications team. 

He explained that stipulating certain rules about such a sensitive issue could bring about different kinds of problems, such as reverse discrimination. 

An official from another Korean conglomerate also echoed his concerns.

“Just mentioning an individual’s sexual orientation at the corporate level could create unexpected results that are usually not positive,” said the official, “Those who are deemed to be different from others in terms of sexual orientation often want to blend in with others without being noticed.”

Even though public perception of the LGBT community has improved in Korea ― a 2013 Pew Research Center survey showed that almost 40 percent of the Korean public accepts homosexuality in society ― critics point out that lingering negative views keep people from speaking up about their sexuality, while companies are afraid to become more progressive on such issues. 

“Because of a prevailing anti-gay sentiment, not only lawmakers but also domestic companies are reluctant to actively support LGBT policies,” said Seol Dong-hoon, a sociology professor at Chonbuk National University.

“The recent decision of the world’s largest and most influential Internet firm could have a ripple effect in Korean society,” he added.

Some also said there is still a long way to go to create a fair society. 

“Unfortunately, Korean society, which still struggles with social issues stemming from its male-dominated social structure, seems to have no time to spare for LGBT issues at the moment,” an official from a Korean LGBT group said.

He also added that in order for Korean firms to go truly global, they must embrace diversity.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)

Lotte to build W2tr complex in Vietnam

Lotte Asset Development will create a business-leisure complex in Ho Chi Minh worth 2 trillion won ($1.9 billion), the company said Thursday. 

A consortium of local conglomerate Lotte’s real estate development unit and some Japanese investors was named the preferred bidder for the Eco Smart City in the Vietnamese city’s Thu Thiem district in early March. 

The group is expected to submit a master plan for the complex to the local government by the end of the year to finalize the deal. 

A blueprint of Eco Smart City (Lotte Asset Development)

“Lotte Center Hanoi and the Thu Thiem development will be the pivotal points for Lotte’s advancement into the Vietnamese market,” said Lotte official Kim Min-geun. 

The 100,000-square-meter Eco Smart City will consist of shopping malls, office buildings, hotels and service residences alongside apartments. 

It is part of the Thu Thiem district development plan pushed by the Vietnamese government since 2002 to create a business hub of Southeast Asia. The 6.57-square-kilometer district is expected to become the “Pudong of Vietnam,” taking after the famous commercial-financial district of Shanghai. 

Lotte’s Eco Smart City is also expected to create a synergy effect in bringing up the brand awareness and business reputation with its Lotte Center Hanoi, which will open in September. 

Lotte Center Hanoi, a business-leisure complex in the Vietnamese capital, has a five-star hotel, office spaces, a serviced residence and a 65th-floor observatory. 

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)