NewJeans Contracts Expose the Hidden Cost of K-Pop Stardom

The explosive legal battle between chart-topping girl group NewJeans and their label Ador has pulled back the curtain on the restrictive contracts that underpin the K-Pop machine—documents signed when the members were as young as 14.

According to an in-depth investigation, the five members of NewJeans—Hanni Pham, Minji Kim, Hyein Lee, Haerin Kang, and Danielle Marsh—signed agreements between the ages of 14 and 17 that stripped away key child-protection language found in the South Korean government’s standard contract template. The contracts, which were reviewed by entertainment lawyers, reveal terms that experts describe as “unusually aggressive,” even by industry standards.

The NewJeans contracts omitted government-mandated protections guaranteeing minors’ rights to education, physical and mental health, sleep, and rest. Instead, the agreements included sweeping restrictions on personal behavior, banning things like “insincere attitude,” “inappropriate romantic relationships,” and any public statements—true or false—that could damage the label’s reputation.

The financial terms were equally striking. Members were required to repay a significant share of what the label spent on plastic surgery and beauty treatments during their trainee years. The label also retained the right to use AI-generated versions of the members’ voices indefinitely—even after the contract’s 2029 expiration date.

The controversy erupted roughly two years ago when NewJeans, fresh off the success of their album Get Up debuting at No. 1 on U.S. charts, announced they were leaving Ador. Hanni Pham told reporters, “Staying at the company will only prolong our psychological pain.”

What followed was a monthslong legal battle. Ador sued, and in March 2025, judges sided with the company, ruling that the group could not strike out on their own. In December 2025, the label terminated its contract with member Danielle Marsh and sued her for approximately $22 million, most of it in exit fees. Her lawyer has accused HYBE and Ador of trying to end her career as a warning to others.

Interviews with people close to the group painted a picture of grueling training conditions: rehearsals until 2 a.m., cameras monitoring training areas, and discouragement from taking breaks. Four of the five members dropped out of school during their trainee years.

HYBE representatives stated that the company fully complies with child-protection laws and does not pressure artists to drop out of school or penalize them for resting. They described the contracts as legal and negotiated in good faith.

Legal experts say the NewJeans case illustrates how little has changed in K-Pop despite years of promised reforms. “In K-Pop, you either do what they say, dress as they say, do your hair as they say, or you’re going to get replaced,” said Dina LaPolt, an entertainment lawyer whose clients have included Britney Spears.

For now, the future of NewJeans remains uncertain. The label has teased the possibility of a new album, but the group has not performed in over a year. What is clear is that the fight has exposed the stark realities behind the polished façade of one of the world’s most successful pop acts—and raised urgent questions about the cost of stardom for the youngest performers in the industry.

Source: NYT