SM Entertainment's popular group TVXQ

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

SM Entertainment will postpone its annual SMTOWN LIVE '09 concert due to legal action being taken by the three members of the pop group TVXQ. The concert was scheduled for Aug. 16 at the main stadium of Jamsil Sports Complex.

``We express our apologies to fans that we have to announce such sad news … We promise we will bring a better event in the future,'' SM Entertainment said in a press release Friday. The agency said that they will give refunds for tickets that have already been purchased.

The announcement came following the news that Hero, Micky and Xiah submitted an application for provisional disposition to terminate the validity of their contract with the agency last week. The legal action caused waves in the pop industry, along with fans who worried the group would disband.

SMTOWN LIVE '09 is one of the biggest concert events here hosted by the agency starring some of the most popular groups in Korea, including TVXQ, Girls' Generation and Super Junior.

sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr