Chinese idol and former EXO member Huang Zitao has lost a lawsuit filed against him by his former South Korea-based management agency SM Entertainment.

Last year, Tao quit the Chinese-Korean idol group after months of speculations, and he released his solo mini-album, T.A.O.  He then filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment, seeking termination of his contract.  

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SM Entertainment also filed a lawsuit against him on Oct. 13, saying that he failed to pay them the amount that he had taken from them. Soompi reports that an intermediate court in Qingdao, China, has asked the Chinese idol to return the amount he took from his former management agency. In addition to the due amount, Tao also has to pay interest on the delayed amount.   

In a statement, SM Entertainment said that Tao, who stopped being an active EXO member in April 2015, had asked for temporary payment, which the agency gave him. Tao failed to pay back this amount within the promised time, although he knew their bank account number, and he also filed a lawsuit to cancel his contract with them, according to the statement.     

"We will represent the good intentions of victims and work to prevent damage toward Korea and China's cultural exchanges that was caused because of Kris, Luhan, and Tao's illegal actions and breaches of contract," SM Entertainment added in the statement.

Kris, Luhan, Tao and Lay were the four Chinese members of EXO, which was formed with twelve members. Now, only Lay is an active Chinese EXO member. Kris quit the group in May 2014, and later in October, Luhan, too, quit. They both filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment, to nullify their exclusive contracts.  

TagsTao, Former EXO Member Tao, SM Entertainment, EXO Tao, Chinese Korean idol group