Osaka Ojogang Ibuki Withdraws from SWF3 Concert Amid Contract Dispute with Producer
ROOT59 Responds to Allegations Following Absence from Seoul & Busan Shows
Ibuki, leader of the SWF3-winning crew Osaka Ojogang, is in a public dispute with the production company behind the show’s concert series. On September 9, ROOT59, the organizer of the Street Woman Fighter 3 (SWF3) concerts, issued a statement responding to Ibuki’s recent allegations—highlighting communication breakdowns, concerns over contract fairness, and the group’s internal dynamics.
According to ROOT59, discussions had taken place to secure Osaka Ojogang’s participation in the concerts, but the negotiation process reportedly became difficult due to demands made by the crew’s manager—who, according to reports, is also Ibuki’s boyfriend. The company stated that these additional conditions were considered unfair and claimed the members were potentially not being transparently informed about their performance fees.
“We could not accept conditions that lacked fairness or clarity. To ensure transparency, we reached out directly to the members,” ROOT59 said in its statement.
Claims of Legal Action, Health Issues, and Performance Absence
ROOT59 further claimed that Ibuki had refused to use the official flight tickets arranged by the production team and had, through her attorney, notified them that she would not be honoring the prior agreement. Her absence, they say, was explained as being due to health-related concerns.
The company also expressed that other Ojogang members were left in the dark until the last minute, reportedly receiving no detailed schedules or task briefings. ROOT59 said this damaged trust and caused significant mental stress for the performers. Despite continued attempts to resolve the situation, they stated, no final response was received from Ibuki, leading to an official announcement of her withdrawal from the upcoming Busan concert.
Ibuki had already missed the SWF3 concerts held on September 6 and 7 in Seoul, and is now confirmed to skip the final show on September 13 at Sajik Indoor Gymnasium in Busan.
In a social media post, Ibuki countered ROOT59’s claims, writing, “I was asked to sign a contract in a situation where I wasn’t even allowed to speak as an artist, and that led to conflict.” She revealed that she had hired a lawyer in South Korea and stated that her withdrawal from the performances was due to the actions of the production company.
The SWF3 concert tour comes on the heels of the popular dance competition show’s third season finale in August. As the leader of the winning crew, Ibuki’s absence from the high-profile concerts has drawn considerable public attention.
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