A New York Times investigation has revealed that members of K-pop supergroup NewJeans signed contracts with record label Ador that removed standard child protection provisions when they were between 14 and 17 years old. The contracts eliminated language protecting fundamental rights such as sleep, rest, and free choice, and included clauses prohibiting performers from displaying an “insincere attitude” or engaging in “inappropriate romantic relationships.”
The agreements also struck government-mandated protections regarding excessive working hours and safeguards against demands for inappropriate physical exposure or sexually suggestive expression by minors. Additionally, the contracts granted Ador perpetual rights to use band members’ names, images, voices, and likenesses indefinitely and extended these rights to include use as AI chatbots or digital clones—provisions that exceed typical government recommendations limiting such rights to the duration of the contract.
NewJeans became one of the most commercially successful K-pop groups of recent years, achieving a number-one Billboard album as the second Korean girl group to do so. In November 2024, the group announced their departure from Ador citing contract disputes and allegations that the label had deliberately undermined their careers. Band member Hanni subsequently made public statements to South Korea’s parliament accusing the label of “deliberate miscommunications and manipulation.” Ador has disputed these claims, stating that unilateral assertions about broken trust do not constitute valid grounds for contract termination.
Litigation has ensued, with Ador filing suit in December 2025 against band member Danielle, a family member, and the group’s producer seeking approximately $30 million in damages and contract penalties. Hybe representatives have stated that its contracts comply with applicable law and were negotiated in good faith, with protections for both artists and the label’s investments. The situation has drawn broader attention to contractual practices within the K-pop industry and the conditions faced by performing artists, particularly minors entering the sector.
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