NewJeans Contracts Waived Rights to Sleep, Report Says

The K-pop group NewJeans signed label contracts that waived their right to "sleep, rest and free choice", according to a new report from the New York Times. The members were between 14 and 17 when they signed.

What the contracts contained

The deals, with the label Ador, a subsidiary of Hybe, banned an insincere attitude and inappropriate romantic relationships. They also removed standard child-protection language covering basic human rights, including the right to education.

Ador left out parts of the Korean government's K-pop contract template. One of them said a label shall not demand that a minor engage in excessive physical exposure or overly sexually suggestive expression. Another forbade working for excessive periods of time.

Another clause lets Ador use the members' name, photographs, likeness, handwriting and voice in perpetuity. That goes further than government recommendations, which say such rights should end when the contract ends. The clause also lets the label use the members as AI chatbots or clones.

The contract also required the group to repay a significant share of plastic surgery costs, which are common in K-pop.

Years of training before signing

By the time they signed, Minji, Hanni, Haerin, Hyein and Danielle had trained for years in K-pop boot camps. A source told the Times that schedules were strict and rehearsals could run as late as 2am. Hyein, the youngest, was 12 at that point.

After the members received their exclusive contracts in January 2022, the parents of one member asked for several changes. They were told that if the contract was not signed as it stood, the contract itself could be reconsidered.

Hybe and Ador respond

Hybe told the Times that it follows child-protection laws and works to keep its artists safe while they train and work. It said it considers the contracts lawful and says they were agreed in good faith, and that its exit penalty fees are within industry norms. On cosmetic procedures it said: "We do not even recommend cosmetic surgery or procedures against an individual's wishes."

The Guardian has asked Hybe for comment.

The dispute so far

NewJeans won a number one album on the Billboard charts in 2023, the second Korean girl group to do so after Blackpink. In November 2024 they announced their exit from the label, citing contract disputes and their claim that Ador had set out to damage their careers.

Hanni told South Korea's parliament last year that the group had been mistreated and accused Ador of manipulation. Ador has said it did not violate its duty and that a unilateral claim that trust is broken is not valid grounds to end a contract.

In December 2025 the label sued Danielle, one of her relatives and the group's producer for nearly $30m in damages and a contract break penalty. In July the group promised a summer of NewJeans, with a teaser showing four members without Danielle. No new music has appeared yet.

Source: The Guardian