Industry groups point out tampering allegation surrounding NewJeans
Five major Korean music organizations have issued a strong statement condemning tampering in the K-pop industry, specifically referring to the ongoing dispute involving NewJeans, who now call themselves as NJZ, and urging the government to take regulatory action.
Korea Management Federation, Korea Entertainment Producers Association, Record Label Industry Association of Korea, Recording Industry Association of Korea and Korea Music Content Association, released a joint statement Wednesday.
Tampering refers to an external party reaching out to an artist still under an exclusive contract with one agency and engaging in business discussions before the original contract is officially terminated.
The organizations stated, “Tampering can instantly destroy an agency that has taken on significant financial risks and invested heavily over a long period in an artist’s potential and success.” They pointed to the ongoing conflict between NewJeans, Ador and Hybe, which has persisted since April 2024.
“For the past 10 months, we have seen a growing trend where certain parties attempt to resolve private disputes through media campaigns and unilateral public statements instead of proper negotiations or legal procedures. Examples include former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin’s press conferences, NewJeans member Hanni’s appearance at a National Assembly audit and the group’s independent activities,” the statement read.
The organizations expressed concern that such actions have led government agencies and lawmakers to question whether the K-pop industry can regulate itself, resulting in increased regulatory measures.
“We are not opposed to regulations, but issues such as contract settlements between companies and artists or labor conditions for minors have vastly different characteristics and should be discussed individually within the industry. Guidelines for self-regulation and consensus should be established before external intervention,” they stated.
The organizations cited the introduction of a bill prohibiting workplace harassment against artists, which was proposed after Hanni’s National Assembly appearance last October. They warned that if laws affecting the industry continue to pass without sufficient consideration, the entire K-pop sector could face excessive regulatory burdens.
The organizations further emphasized that if tampering becomes a precedent for tampering could crush the entertainment management industry, which plays a crucial role in the growth of K-pop. “The key to preventing tampering lies in the faithful fulfillment of exclusive contracts,” they stated.
They also called for institutional support to prevent tampering and protect the integrity of exclusive contracts, similar to how Korea has implemented laws to safeguard core national industries like semiconductors from technology leaks. They stressed the need for legal measures to deter companies from poaching artists under contract and to uphold contractual obligations within the entertainment industry.
In November 2024, NewJeans held an emergency press conference to announce the unilateral termination of their exclusive contract with Ador. However, they are now embroiled in tampering allegations. Reports by some media outlets revealed that former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin had allegedly contacted investors while serving as an internal director at Ador, discussing the possibility of NewJeans' separation from Ador.
jy@heraldcorp.com
