NewJeans’ record label contract reportedly lacked protections for minors

NewJeans × About group NewJeans NewJeans is a five-member girl group known for their fresh Y2K-inspired style, smooth vocals, and viral hits. Tap again to view profile → Close in 2025 [https://www.nme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/newjeans@2000x1270.jpg]

A new report has alleged that NewJeans‘ record label contract allegedly lacked protections for minors, including their right to “sleep, rest and free choice”.

The K-pop giants became the second Korean girl group to top the Billboard charts in 2023, just behind Blackpink × About group BLACKPINK BLACKPINK is one of the most influential K-pop girl groups in the world, known for their powerful performances, global chart success, and distinctive blend of pop, hip-hop, EDM, and rap. Formed by YG Entertainment, the group consists of Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa. Since their debut in 2016, BLACKPINK has achieved numerous milestones, including record-breaking music videos, sold-out world tours, and collaborations with internationally recognized artists. With a dedicated global fanbase known as BLINK, BLACKPINK continues to shape the modern K-pop industry through their music, fashion influence, and worldwide cultural impact. The group has earned recognition for hit songs such as “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” “How You Like That,” “Pink Venom,” and “Shut Down,” while establishing themselves as one of the most successful and recognizable Korean music acts of all time! Tap again to view profile → Close . The following year, they made headlines when they decided to leave their label – a move that was reportedly caused by contract disputes and allegations that ADOR (a subsidiary of HYBE) had intentionally undermined them.

Now, The New York Times has published an article about the contracts the members had while working with ADOR, and suggested that they lacked protection for minors. The members of the group all signed the contracts when they were aged between 14 and 17, and the paperwork banned them from engaging in “inappropriate romantic relationships” and putting forward an “insincere attitude”.

Contracts also allegedly excluded a section of the K-pop contract template issued by the Korean government, ensuring that a label would “not demand that a performer who is a minor engage in excessive physical exposure or overly sexually suggestive expression”.

> Secret K-Pop Deals: The Times obtained the contracts signed by the group NewJeans. They show how record labels keep a tight grip on K-pop stars. https://t.co/VH2FWqbBgu
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> — The New York Times (@nytimes) November 5, 2026

The New York Times also reports that other protections in the government template – namely the “guarantee” of the “basic human rights of popular culture and arts performers who are minors, including their physical and mental health, right to education, personality rights, and rights to sleep, rest, and free choice” – was omitted from The NewJeans contracts.

In a statement to the outlet, reps for HYBE said that the company consistently upholds child-protection laws and ensures safe conditions for those who have signed contracts with them.

ADOR previously defended their contracts and the treatment of their signed artists in 2025, following band member Hanni × Artist bio Hanni Real name: Phạm Ngọc HânPosition: Vocalist, DancerNationality: Vietnamese-AustralianBirthday: 2004-10-06Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia Member of NewJeans. Hanni is cheerful, expressive, and playful, known for her bright reactions and comfortable, friendly vibe. Tap again to view profile → Close claiming that she and her bandmates faced “deliberate miscommunications and manipulation” from the label.

“A unilateral claim that trust has been broken does not constitute valid grounds for termination of a contract,” an ADOR rep said in a statement (via BBC News).

The label then sued band member Danielle × Artist bio Danielle Real name: Mo Ji-hyePosition: Vocalist, DancerNationality: Korean-AustralianBirthday: 2005-04-11Birthplace: Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia Member of NewJeans. Danielle is energetic, talkative, and warm, with a lively personality and strong variety and MC skills. Tap again to view profile → Close , as well as a member of her family and NewJeans’ producer last December for damages and a contract break penalty, seeking $30million (£22.4million).

In a statement to The New York Times, HYBE again argued that its contracts were legal and had been designed to protect the safety and wellbeing of the artists, and clarified that when it came to plastic surgery, which is common in K-pop, they “do not even recommend cosmetic surgery or procedures against an individual’s wishes”.

> NewJeans' Contract with ADOR gave the label the right to use A.I.-generated NewJeans voices indefinitely.
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> (via New York Times) pic.twitter.com/QtF9STCbpl
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> — Pop EMPIRE (@PopEmpirex) November 5, 2026

As per the report from the news outlet, the members are under contract until 2029, and after that, the contract will allow the label to continue “using and licensing their identities”. While the singers will still be paid, they will not be able to “control the use of their faces and voices”, including with voice clones or chatbots created by AI.

In October 2025, the Seoul Central District Court rejected NewJeans’ appeal to terminate their contract and agreement with ADOR in order for them to pursue independent activities – requiring them to remain with ADOR exclusively until 2029.

Since then, MrBeast – who is the biggest YouTuber with 460million subscribers – responded to calls for him to save Danielle by buying NewJeans or ADOR, and Danielle has said that she “fought till the end” to stay with the band.

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