NewJeans’ Contracts Removed Key Protections Against Child Labor Violations
The beleaguered K-pop group’s dispute with HYBE label ADOR is laid bare in a New York Times report
Last year, the South Korean girl group NewJeans sparked a rebellion against their contracts with the HYBE label, owned by K-pop powerhouse A.R.Y.O.N. (ADOR). The dispute centered around allegations of "significant negligence" from the label. ADOR dismissed band member Danielle Marsh from the group, with her lawyer stating that the termination was a response to her efforts to challenge the terms of their contracts.
In the wake of the lawsuit, ADOR is now seeking millions in damages from Marsh for breaching their contract. However, concerns have arisen over the severity of the conditions imposed on NewJeans, as revealed in a recent report by The New York Times. The chilling truth about K-pop contracts is well-known; the Korean government even has a template to prevent inhumane conditions.
Yet, HYBE labels are allowed to deviate from these recommendations, which they reportedly did in NewJeans' contract. This contract, signed when NewJeans members were aged 14 to 17, notably omitted provisions guaranteeing rights to education, physical and mental health, and protections against child labor. When a parent of one member sought modifications, ADOR's vice president reportedly responded, "If you do not agree to the current contract draft, including the points above, it may be best to reconsider the contract itself."
Prior to their debut in 2022, ADOR subjected the young NewJeans members to relentless training, often forcing them to rehearse late into the night, sometimes past 2 a.m., with breaks being discouraged. According to sources, four of the five members dropped out of school. HYBE reportedly complies with child-protection laws and takes measures to safeguard performers' well-being, and does not pressure them to quit school or penalize them for resting.
The contracts granted HYBE the right to use AI-generated versions of NewJeans' voices indefinitely, unlike the government's template, which returns performers' rights to their name, image, and voice upon contract termination. Other unusual stipulations in the contracts included prohibitions on "insincere attitude," "inappropriate romantic relationships," and openly stating "true or false facts" that could harm the label.
Band member Hanni Pham publicly criticized ADOR for its treatment of her and her bandmates in a 2024 testimony to the Korean Parliament. Following the testimony, NJZ (the band's rebranded name) performed at ComplexCon in Hong Kong, defying a court injunction granted by Seoul. However, the rebellion was quickly quelled as NewJeans—NJZ—announced a hiatus in accordance with the court order.
The stringent contract terms meant that insubordinate members could face substantial lawsuits and fees. ADOR terminated Marsh's contract and sued her, alleging that her refusal to work, unauthorized solo projects, and photo shoots violated contract terms, costing the label roughly $22 million. The remaining NewJeans members are still under contract until 2029.
Their latest activity—a video posted last August promising a "summer of NewJeans"—has not materialized.
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