Korean K-pop group NewJeans has signed a restrictive record company contract, giving up the rights to "sleep, rest, and free choice."
A new report in The New York Times states that these contracts were signed when the record-breaking girl group members were only 14 to 17 years old. The contracts prohibit members from having an “untrue attitude” or engaging in “improper romantic relationships”. The contracts also remove the standard child protection clauses that safeguard “basic human rights”, including the right to education for the members.
Ador (a subsidiary of Hybe)’s contract excludes certain provisions from the Korean government’s K-pop contract template. The template stipulates that companies “shall not require underage performers to engage in excessive physical exposure or overly sexualized expressions.”
In a statement, Hybe representatives said that the company complies with child protection laws and strives to ensure that its artists work and train in safe conditions.
The British newspaper The Guardian stated that NewJeans is one of the most popular K-pop groups of the past decade. In 2023, this five-member group became the second Korean female band to top the Billboard chart, following Blackpink. In November 2024, the group announced its departure from the company due to contract disputes and accusations of Ador damaging their career, which made headlines worldwide.
Member Hanni last year claimed in a statement submitted to the Korean National Assembly that NewJeans members were subject to company mistreatment and accused Ador of "intentionally engaging in improper communication and manipulation." Ador has consistently maintained that they have not violated their obligations. The company's statement said: “A unilateral claim of broken trust is not a valid reason for termination of the contract.”
The record company filed a lawsuit against member Danielle, one of her family members, and the band’s producers in December 2025, seeking damages of nearly $30 million and fines for breach of contract.
New reports expose the dark side of K-pop contracts, revealing the restrictive conditions that may be faced by the industry’s biggest stars. When signing the contracts, NewJeans members Minji, Hanni, Haerin, Hyein, and Danielle have undergone years of training in K-pop “bootcamps,” including vocal skills, dance choreography, and foreign language education.
A source said that the schedule was very strict, and rehearsals often lasted until 2 a.m. At that time, Hyein, the youngest member of NewJeans, was only 12 years old.
In January 2022, after receiving an exclusive contract with Ador, one of the members' parents requested several modifications. However, they were told that if the contract was not signed in its current form, “the contract itself” might be reconsidered.
In an interview with The New York Times, Hybe stated that its contract is legal and was negotiated in good faith, providing protection for both the artist and the company's investment in the artist.
This contract deleted the wording in the government template that prohibits performers from "working overtime." NewJeans' contract also grants Ador perpetual rights to use members' names, photos, likenesses, signatures, voices and any other elements.
Additionally, the terms also grant Ador the right to use NewJeans members as AI chatbots or AI clones.
