K-pop organisations back agency in NewJeans’ contract dispute
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NewJeans held a press conference in Seoul on Nov 28 announcing their decision to quit their label Ador over alleged mistreatment.
PHOTO: AFP
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SEOUL – The Korea Entertainment Producer’s Association (Kepa) has criticised K-pop girl group NewJeans for “unilaterally” terminating their exclusive contract with their agency Ador.
It is the second organisation from the K-pop industry to speak up in favour of Ador, after the Korea Management Association urged NewJeans on Dec 3 to retract their decision.
“An exclusive contract is not just a document, but the result of shared trust and promises,” Kepa said in a statement on Dec 6. “The notion that such contracts can be unilaterally terminated without concrete justification is deeply concerning.”
The association chided NewJeans for holding a press conference to unilaterally announce the termination,
Kepa warned that the abrupt contract termination by the five-member group, which debuted in 2022, sets a dangerous precedent that could harm the sustainability of the K-pop industry.
“Agencies take on significant financial risks and dedicate extensive resources to discovering and nurturing artistes,” it said. “If such irresponsible contract terminations are tolerated, it will not only destroy trust, but also deter future investments in the K-pop industry.”
Kepa’s statement came after Ador said on Dec 5 that it has filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court on Dec 3 to confirm the validity of its exclusive contract with NewJeans.
The agency said it deemed it necessary to take this step to affirm that exclusive contracts cannot be unilaterally terminated based on individual claims, ensuring clarity for the artistes and other stakeholders involved.
“This decision was not made lightly,” Ador said in a statement. “It aims to prevent misunderstandings where the artistes might believe their exclusive contracts have been legally terminated, potentially engaging in entertainment activities that violate the existing contracts.”
Ador emphasised the broader implications of the dispute.
“If the fundamental agreement of an exclusive contract is not upheld, the company’s efforts, which are based on trust in the investment while enduring long-term uncertainty, become invalid and unrecoverable,” it said. “This would undermine systematic support, investment and the advancement of systems that have driven the rapid growth of the K-pop industry.”
NewJeans reiterated their stance following Ador’s legal action.
In a statement released on Dec 6, NewJeans said that as at Nov 29, they are no longer affiliated with Ador and asserted that it has no authority over their activities.
The girl group claimed that the agency failed to adequately argue that there were no violations of their exclusive contract. Instead, Ador repeatedly insisted that the contract could not be terminated until it recovered its investments.
NewJeans countered by asserting that they have already generated profits exceeding the investments made by Ador and its parent company Hybe.
Addressing Ador’s lawsuit seeking judicial confirmation of the contract’s validity, NewJeans expressed regret over what they perceive as misleading public statements by the agency, which suggest the contract remains in effect.
The group also voiced concerns about alleged surveillance and defamation by Ador, describing such actions as causing “fear and disgust”.
While fulfilling remaining scheduled commitments, NewJeans’ supporting staff have allegedly faced significant harassment from Ador and Hybe, including sudden inspections and equipment confiscation.
“We hope the trial will reveal in detail the circumstances that compelled our decision to terminate the exclusive contract and the reasons behind Ador’s breach of contract,” NewJeans said. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
