“A Dangerous Precedent in K-Pop”: Concerns Over Public Support for NewJeans by Bada & Ock Joo-hyun
On October 28, NewJeans announced their intention to terminate their exclusive contracts with ADOR, despite 5 years remaining. During an emergency press conference, the members declared their commitment to keeping the group name. Although they continue to fulfill scheduled activities with ADOR, an independent social media account, “jeanzforfree,” was launched by the members, signaling their desire for autonomy.
The account quickly gained followers, including celebrity fans such as baseball player Kim Do-young and actress Shim Eun-kyung. Support from industry veterans also followed.
On December 17, Fin.K.L’s Ock Joo-hyun appeared on SBS PowerFM’s “Wendy’s Young Street” and recommended NewJeans’ “Ditto” as a song of choice. She expressed her desire to support the group, “I believe they’ll grow into incredible artists who convey deep emotions and create great music.” Similarly, S.E.S’s Bada mentioned her admiration for NewJeans during a KBS CoolFM broadcast, referencing their cover of “Supernatural” and expressing her hope for their well-being amidst challenges. S.E.S’s Eugene also showed her support on social media by posting their album jacket photos.
While such gestures may stem from empathy, Korean media have pointed out that NewJeans is not an innocent victim but an active party in a high-profile contractual dispute. Despite claims of workplace harassment, their actions, such as holding a press conference and launching an independent social media account, are seen as breaching contractual obligations and trust.
Several associations, including the Korea Management Federation and the Korea Entertainment Producers’ Association, have raised concerns over NewJeans’ actions, warning of potential damage to K-Pop’s foundation. The latter association stated, “The notion that exclusive contracts can be terminated based solely on unilateral claims sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the sustainability of Korea’s entertainment industry.”
Adding to the controversy are allegations of “tampering.” Reports suggest that former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin met with a chairman from Company D and a NewJeans member’s uncle to discuss establishing a family-run management agency. If these claims are true, this could lead to both civil and criminal liabilities.
While public support for NewJeans may have been well-intentioned, critics argue that such overt endorsements require careful consideration, given the broader implications for the K-Pop industry.
