K-pop group NewJeans signed restrictive contracts with their label Ador that omitted protections for their rights to sleep, rest and make free choices, according to a report by The New York Times.
The contracts were signed when the five members were aged between 14 and 17, the report published on 5 November found. The agreements reportedly prohibited an “insincere attitude” and “inappropriate romantic relationships” while removing standard child-protection provisions covering basic human rights, including the right to education.
Ador, a subsidiary of Hybe, also excluded clauses from the South Korean government’s standard K-pop contract template that prohibit labels from requiring underage performers to engage in excessive physical exposure or overly sexualised expression. The contracts also removed language restricting excessive working hours.
Hybe told The New York Times that its contracts complied with child-protection laws and were negotiated in good faith. The company said it worked to ensure safe conditions for artists during training and work. It also denied recommending cosmetic surgery against an artist’s wishes, following reports that the contracts required members to repay a significant portion of certain cosmetic surgery costs.
The report comes amid a long-running dispute between NewJeans and Ador. In November 2024, the group announced its decision to leave the label, alleging that the company had undermined their careers. Member Hanni also accused Ador of deliberate miscommunication and manipulation in a statement to South Korea’s parliament. Ador has denied breaching its contractual obligations.
The contracts reportedly granted Ador perpetual rights to use the members’ names, photographs, likenesses, handwriting and voices, extending beyond government recommendations that such rights end when a contract terminates. The agreements also allowed the label to use the members’ identities to create AI chatbots or digital clones.
The report further detailed the demanding training schedules the members experienced before their debut. Rehearsals could reportedly continue until 2am, while the youngest member, Hyein, began training at the age of 12. When one member’s parents sought changes to the contract in January 2022, they were reportedly warned that the agreement itself could be reconsidered if they refused to sign it as written.
NewJeans, comprising Minji, Hanni, Haerin, Hyein and Danielle, rose to international prominence in 2023, becoming the second Korean girl group after Blackpink to top the Billboard album charts. The group teased a four-member return in July 2026, without Danielle, but new music has yet to be released.
The report has renewed scrutiny of contractual conditions in the K-pop industry, particularly the protections afforded to performers who sign agreements as minors.
