[Nate] "NEWJEANS, THE MEMBERS BARE THE COST OF THEIR OWN PLASTIC SURGERY... THEY WOULD REHEARSE AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE UNTIL 2AM"

The New York Times (NYT) reported that exclusive contracts signed by members of the K-pop group NewJeans with their agency, ADOR, when they were minors contained unfair provisions, including the omission of clauses designed to protect underage artists. The NYT reported this on the 5th (local time), stating that it had obtained copies of the exclusive contracts signed in 2022, when the five NewJeans members were between 14 and 17 years old.

After obtaining and analyzing the contracts between NewJeans and ADOR, the NYT published them, reporting that it had found numerous provisions that infringed on the members’ rights. These included the absence of protections for minors, responsibility for cosmetic surgery expenses, restrictions on personal behavior, methods for calculating financial penalties for contract breaches, and provisions concerning the use of their names and likenesses after the contracts ended. The NYT also said the contracts had been reviewed by five legal experts. Among them, Seoul-based entertainment lawyer Noh Jong-eon described the agreement as “an unusually aggressive contract.”

The NYT first pointed out that NewJeans’ contracts contained “no language concerning child protection.” The members began living in dormitories when they were as young as 12. Individuals familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation from the agency, said that “it was not unusual for them to rehearse until 2 a.m.” According to the NYT, the areas where the members practiced were equipped with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, and four of the five members dropped out of school while training.

In response, a HYBE representative stated that the company strictly complies with child protection laws and does everything possible to ensure that its performers can work and train in a safe environment. The representative also said that the company does not force its artists to discontinue their education or penalize them for taking breaks.

However, citing emails it had obtained, the NYT argued that the contract terms were effectively non-negotiable. It revealed that in January 2022, the mother of one member requested several changes before signing the contract. An ADOR vice president responded: “If you do not agree to the current draft of the contract, including the matters mentioned above, it may be best to reconsider the contract itself.”

The contracts also contained a provision requiring the members to pay for beauty-related expenses, including skincare, cosmetic surgery, and body contouring. According to the NewJeans contracts, the members were required to reimburse the company for a substantial portion of the money it had spent on plastic surgery and other cosmetic procedures during their trainee years. Two people associated with the group said that the agency had recommended cosmetic procedures to some of the members before their debut. In response, a HYBE representative told the NYT that the company “does not recommend cosmetic surgery or procedures against an individual's wishes.”

Another provision allowed the company to continue using the members' names, likenesses, and voices even after the contracts expired. Under standard contracts, the company's rights to use an artist's name, image, and voice generally end when the contract expires. However, NewJeans' contracts allowed ADOR to continue using these rights or license them to third parties even after the contracts expired in 2029. This also included the creation of AI-generated voice clones and chatbots.

In publishing the NewJeans contracts, the NYT wrote that “K-pop has long been plagued by allegations of child exploitation. Agencies often recruit young children, put them through years of intensive training, and then pass the costs on to the children themselves.”

The newspaper also noted that several stars known as idols have taken their own lives. It concluded that the NewJeans contracts demonstrated how little had changed, despite years of promises of sweeping reforms and government intervention, even for one of the most successful groups of its generation.

This is the best // It's warm // Ridiculous // I'm upset // I'm mad

source: here

1. [+183, -23]

People who are still swearing at NewJeans must've lost their minds. Who is making you do this?

2. [+169, -33]

HYBE's level tsk tsk

3. [+112, -71]

The K-pop industry has always operated this way, don’t you know that NewJeans received settlements in the billions of won as early as their first year? Honestly, this "playing the victim" act is getting so tiresome

4. [+110, -12]

Look at the title, they purposefully made it sensational by emphasizing on the surgery but it's all documented whether they're able to do surgery or not

5. [+99, -60]

I'm so tired of this

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