SM Entertainment has reportedly filed requests for a provisional seizure of assets belonging to EXO-CBX’s Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin—totaling ₩2.6 billion (roughly $1.78 million USD, depending on exchange rates). The filings were reported to have been submitted on February 9 and 10, 2026, turning a dispute that’s dragged on since 2023 into one of the tensest legal showdowns in K-pop right now.
According to multiple reports, the listed targets include Chen’s housing lease deposit, Baekhyun’s apartment, and Xiumin’s apartment/home. And the timing couldn’t be more combustible: EXO released their eighth album “Reverxe” in January 2026 and promoted it without CBX, kicking “EXO Reverxe 6 members” discourse back into overdrive—and putting even more spotlight on whether an OT9 moment is realistic or just wishful thinking.
The dispute, dated: June 2023 → Feb 2026 (timeline)
This started in June 2023, when Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin moved to terminate their contracts, alleging unfair terms and unclear settlement processes. After the situation went public, both sides stepped back from the cliff with the so-called “6•18 Agreement”, which kept their exclusive contracts in place while setting new conditions around individual activities.
But the calm didn’t last. As CBX’s solo and unit work increasingly ran through INB100, lawsuits and negotiations continued in parallel. By June 2024, the fight had broadened beyond contract length into disagreements over disclosure and settlement confirmation, and by October 2025, reported court-led mediation attempts failed—signaling that compromise was slipping away.
Then came “Reverxe” in January 2026 without CBX. Weeks later, the February seizure filings arrived, reframing this as not just a participation issue, but a money-and-enforcement one.
The 6•18 Agreement at the center of the money fight
Reports tie SM claims a 10% royalty on CBX’s individual sales via the 6•18 Agreement. The provisional seizure secures assets now to ensure payment if SM wins. CBX and INB100 agree to pay but dispute the total amount. They are challenging the timing and calculation during legal proceedings.
Numbers breakdown: what SM is said to be claiming
- Chen: ₩300 million (reported as a residential lease deposit claim)
- Baekhyun: ₩1.6 billion (reported as an apartment-related claim amount)
- Xiumin: ₩700 million (reported as a home/apartment-related claim amount)
Altogether, the total cited is ₩2.6 billion. Reports say the provisional seizure targets real estate and housing-related assets, with slightly different USD conversions depending on the day’s rate, including coverage from outlets like allkpop.
“Reverxe” fallout and why fans are spiraling about OT9
For EXO-Ls, “Reverxe” has become a line in the sand. It’s the first recent album cycle widely covered as moving forward without CBX, and that changes the emotional math.
Now, “EXO OT9 comeback” talk isn’t just about schedules and negotiations behind the scenes. It’s being treated like a legal and logistical question—who’s operating under what agreement, who can appear where, and what has to be resolved first.
For many EXO-Ls, the bigger fear isn’t just a missed era—it’s the possibility that “temporary” exclusions harden into a new normal.
Why this echoes past SM legal wars (and why it’s still different)
Fans compare this to SM’s biggest scandals, like TVXQ’s lawsuit and Jessica’s exit. The current dispute mirrors the agency’s most historic and public contract battles.
Still, there’s a major difference: SM and CBX did sign a post-dispute agreement. That makes today’s conflict feel less like a clean break and more like a grinding fight over enforcement, accounting, and compliance tied to the 6•18 terms.
What happens next
The next moves to watch: whether CBX/INB100 formally objects to the provisional seizure, and whether SM clarifies how it calculated the reported 10% bond and what activity period it covers.EXO’s future scheduling and group numbering will define “Reverxe.” It will either be a temporary fix or the start of a new era.