NewJeans contract row: members signed at 14, label kept lifelong rights to their names and voices

A New York Times report has revealed startling details about the contract of popular K-pop girl group NewJeans. According to the report, the band's members were made to sign a contract when they were aged 14 to 17, in which the usual child-protection rules were not followed. On the contrary, the agency attached various conditions to the artists even after the contract expired. The revelations have sparked debate across the K-pop industry.

The South Korean government's K-pop contract template requires that minors' physical and mental health, education, and rights to adequate sleep and rest be ensured. But the NewJeans contract contained none of that. Even protections against wearing overly revealing clothes or facing excessive workloads were left out.

The contract strictly banned the members from a 'negligent attitude' and from entering 'inappropriate romantic relationships'. It also restricted them from making any comment — true or false — that could harm the company's reputation.

In addition, the contract stated that the members themselves would have to bear a large share of the cost of plastic surgery or beauty treatments common in the K-pop industry.

The most worrying part was that even after the contract ended, the label retained the lifelong right to use the artists' names, faces and voices. That condition also opened the possibility of commercially using AI clones or chatbots of the members in the future.

After the report was published, HYBE and ADOR issued statements in their defence. They claimed the contracts were made in line with child-protection law. The label said the contract was signed only after detailed discussions from January to April 2022 with the artists, their guardians and lawyers.

On the ban on romantic relationships, ADOR said the condition was added with the guardians' consent to keep the artists away from controversy. HYBE denied the allegation of forcing plastic surgery. On AI clones, it said there is no plan to use the artists' faces or voices without personal consent.

NewJeans came into the spotlight soon after debuting in 2022. But in 2024, the conflict between HYBE and ADOR's former CEO Min Hee-jin slowed the band's activities. In November that year, the members announced they were leaving the label, alleging breach of contract. ADOR challenged the move in court, and in 2025 a Seoul court ruled in the label's favour.

At present, four members of the band — Minji, Hanni, Haerin and Hyein — have returned, but Danielle's return remains uncertain.

Following the report, debate has restarted in the K-pop industry over contracts and protections for underage artists.