The exclusive contracts signed by the members of the girl group NewJeans when they were between 14 and 17 years old have been made public.
Controversy has arisen following foreign media reports that the contracts lacked protective clauses for minors and included provisions allowing the agency to continue using the members' faces and voices even after the contracts expired.
On November 5, local time, the U.S. daily The New York Times published an article titled "Top K-Pop Girl Group's Control Revealed Through Secret Contracts," reporting on the contents after obtaining the contracts that the five NewJeans members had signed with their former agency, ADOR, prior to their debut.
The New York Times stated that the contracts included various clauses that broadly restrict the rights of the artists.
According to the report, standard contract clauses guaranteeing the right to education and rest for minors were omitted from the agreement.
Citing insider accounts, The New York Times also reported that it was not uncommon for the members to rehearse until 2:00 AM.
In response, HYBE reportedly explained that it strictly adhered to child protection laws and did not force the interruption of studies or impose disadvantages regarding rest.
The contracts also included clauses regarding "insincere attitudes," "inappropriate romantic relationships," and a "prohibition on criticizing the record label."
The New York Times further reported that "harsh conditions were imposed upon contract termination" and that while the company was permitted to sell NewJeans' music, the revenue paid to the members was significantly reduced.
The contracts are also known to contain provisions granting the company the right to indefinitely use artificial intelligence-generated voices of the NewJeans members.
According to The New York Times, there was also a clause requiring members to bear a significant portion of the costs incurred for plastic surgery and skincare during their trainee days. In response, HYBE countered that it did not demand or recommend plastic surgery or procedures against the members' will.
The agency added that in the case of NewJeans, the costs incurred during their trainee period were covered by the agency, allowing the members to receive profit settlements immediately after their debut.
Reported by Son Hyeong-an | Video by Lee Da-in | Graphics by Lee Su-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
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