On February 19, five major South Korean music industry organizations – the Korea Entertainment Management Association, the Korea Entertainment Producer’s Association, the Record Label Industry Association of Korea, the Recording Industry Association of Korea and the Korea Music Content Association – issued a joint statement on February 19, criticizing the handling of the NewJeans (NJZ) and Min Hee-jin dispute.
The statement pointed out that “Min Hee-jin’s press conferences and public opinion campaigns, as well as Hanni’s attendance at the National Assembly hearing and the group’s independent activities, are not being resolved through mutual agreement or legal procedures.”
They expressed concerns over the group’s independent activities, stating, “Even before a legal ruling, they attempted to act independently,” and warned that such actions could push K-pop into crisis.
The organizations emphasized the urgency of addressing tampering allegations, declaring, “This situation must no longer be overlooked. Priority should be given to addressing the tampering allegations, which are a common underlying factor behind these unfiltered public opinion battles.”
They cautioned that successful tampering attempts could lead to “the entire entertainment management industry collapsing” and even put K-pop at risk of being taken over by “massive foreign capital.” Citing NewJeans’ recent move to adopt a new name and agent, they stressed, “If exclusive contracts are not legally protected and can be unilaterally nullified, the foundation of the K-pop industry’s existence will be lost.”
Urging government intervention, they stated, “Please do not dismiss disputes over tampering as mere conflicts between industry stakeholders. Recognize that this is a critical risk to K-pop, one of South Korea’s most vital industries.”
Meanwhile, previously when NewJeans (NJZ) initially announced their unilateral contract with ADOR, the Korea Entertainment Producer’s Association (KEPA) also issued a statement criticizing the girl group’s action.
