The agreements between the young performers and Ador stripped out official safeguards regarding working limits, education, and protections against sexually suggestive expression. Beyond daily lifestyle restrictions on relationships and personal conduct, the contract handed the agency perpetual rights to their likenesses for use in technologies like artificial intelligence clones. In response to the fallout and the band's departure, Ador maintains the legality of its agreements and has countersued a member and producer for nearly $30 million.
Key points
The contracts lacked standard South Korean state protections for minors regarding educati…: The contracts lacked standard South Korean state protections for minors regarding education, rest hours, and human rights.
Parent company Hybe maintains that the deals were legal, negotiated in good faith, and co…: Parent company Hybe maintains that the deals were legal, negotiated in good faith, and complied with child-protection statutes.
The dispute escalated publicly after member Hanni brought allegations of mistreatment and…: The dispute escalated publicly after member Hanni brought allegations of mistreatment and manipulation before South Korea's parliament.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
The superstar K-pop group NewJeans signed restrictive record label contracts that waived their right to “sleep, rest and free choice”.
A new report from the New York Times found that the contracts were signed when the members of the record-breaking girl group were aged 14 to 17.
The contracts banned the performers from having an “insincere attitude” and engaging in “inappropriate romantic relationships”. They also struck standard child protection language which protected “basic human rights” including the group members’ right to education.
The contracts from record label Ador (a subsidiary of Hybe, home of popular groups BTS and Katseye) additionally excluded portions of the Korean government’s K-pop contract template stipulating that the label “shall not demand that a performer who is a minor engage in excessive physical exposure or overly sexually suggestive expression”.
In a statement to the New York Times, Hybe representatives said the company adheres to child-protection laws and works hard to make sure its artists work and train in safe conditions.
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