The Korea Entertainment Producers’ Association has issued a statement to criticize the actions of girl group NewJeans, calling the members’ pursuit of a premature contract termination “irresponsible”. The association then urged the NewJeans members to withdraw their claims, return to ADOR, and resume normal activities “for the sake of the entirety of South Korea’s cultural and entertainment industries”.
Read the Korea Entertainment Producers’ Association’s full statement, below.
“The recent controversy over the termination of the exclusive contract between NewJeans and their agency has deeply shocked the cultural and entertainment industries of South Korea. The K-pop industry itself, a cultural asset that is both a source of national pride and the focus of global attention, is currently facing a foundational crisis due to the NewJeans incident. The Korea Entertainment Producers Association feels it can no longer remain silent and has chosen to express its stance.
First, an exclusive contract is not a mere agreement but the product of mutual trust and commitment. We express grave concerns over the idea that an exclusive contract can be unilaterally terminated based on one-sided claims. Contract termination can only occur when the party asserting it provides a legitimate reason, supported by evidence. However, the members of NewJeans have thus far failed to present tangible evidence to substantiate their claims. Furthermore, the group’s unilateral decision to terminate the contract during a press conference totally bypasses proper procedures, and yet, the members went on to make unreasonable demands beyond the scope of the signed agreement. This is highly irresponsible for a party with contractual obligations and deserves strong criticism.
Second, there are growing concerns over the allegations that NewJeans may have been involved in ‘tampering’ while their contract remained valid. Allegations suggest that internal personnel from the agency conspired with third parties to convince the members to terminate their contract. If these allegations are true, this would constitute a highly sophisticated, new form of tampering. Tampering is a destructive act that undermines the trust upon which the entertainment industry is built. It is not merely a contractual violation but a betrayal of the relationship that agencies and artists have built over time. If a renowned K-pop artist like NewJeans is indeed implicated in tampering, it would leave an indelible scar on the entirety of the cultural industry.
Third, the unilateral actions declared by NewJeans, a group in their third year and one which experienced unprecedented success, could set a highly dangerous precedent that threatens the sustainability of South Korea’s cultural and entertainment industries. Agencies take significant financial and temporal risks to discover and nurture artists. The development of artists is not merely a business transaction but a process based on mutual trust and dedication. However, the abrupt decision by NewJeans to announce the termination of their contracts when less than half of the contract term has passed, not to mention the tampering allegations, is detrimental to the relationship between artists and companies, severely damaging trust in the industry and deterring investments. If such one-sided contract terminations are allowed, who would be willing to invest in K-Pop?
The Korea Entertainment Producers’ Association urges NewJeans to withdraw their irresponsible claims as soon as possible, return to their roots, and resume normal activities. If there has been any attempt at independent activities either domestically or internationally, we insist that these activities be halted immediately and urge the members to take a proactive approach, including engaging in dialogue with their agency. Furthermore, we demand a thorough investigation into illegal activities such as tampering.
Lastly, we earnestly appeal to the National Assembly and government officials.
While it’s true that the cultural and entertainment industries start out with corporate capital, stars are created through the grueling efforts and sacrifices of countless workers within these companies. Therefore, disputes over exclusive contracts and tampering issues are not only about corporate survival but are also issues that impact the livelihoods of numerous employees in the industry. We earnestly request the implementation of strong measures to prevent the recurrence of one-sided contract terminations and similar issues.”
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