(OSEN)

A court offered mediation to ex-EXO member Luhan and SM Entertainment in an effort to reach a compromise before their court battle, it was belatedly learned.

The Seoul Central District Court decided last month to send the Luhan case to an arbitration panel just as it did for a similar case filed by former EXO member Kris.

In October, Luhan filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment to nullify his exclusive contract with the management agency. The Chinese member has not returned to Korea since he left for China last month.

The court’s mediation offer would involve making a compromise prior to their official legal battle. If the judge thinks that both sides can come to an agreement, he or she can send the case to the arbitration department. Unlike other general hearings and trials, the arbitration proceeding allows the two parties to discuss the disputed issue more freely. If the two sides reach an agreement, the deal legally takes effect, just like a court ruling.

But it is unclear whether the two sides will be able to strike a deal. In the Kris case, the Chinese member and SM Entertainment stopped short of reaching a compromise in July.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)