The New York Times reported that contracts NewJeans' members signed with HYBE label ADOR at ages 14 to 17 lacked Korea's standard protections for minors and covered AI use of their voices after 2029. HYBE said it followed child-protection laws.
The New York Times published an investigation Thursday, Nov. 5, into the exclusive contracts NewJeans' five members signed with ADOR, a HYBE label, in 2022. The members were 14 to 17, and their parents signed for them.
The Times obtained the contracts and had five legal experts review them. It reported that they left out health, education and rest protections found in South Korea's standard contract for entertainers. Seoul attorney Noh Jong-eon called them "unusually aggressive."
HYBE disputed key findings. It told the Times it complied with child-protection laws and never forced members to stop school, Korean outlets reported.
"We do not even recommend cosmetic surgery or procedures against an individual's wishes," a HYBE representative told the Times, Stereogum reported.
What did the New York Times find in the NewJeans contracts?
The Times report is paywalled. Korean and U.S. outlets summarized these terms from it.
Minors: Korea's standard contract guarantees young artists' health, schooling and rest. The Times reported NewJeans' contracts had no such clauses. Citing sources, it said trainees often practiced until 2 a.m. and four of the five members left school.
Trainee costs: Members were reportedly required to repay a large share of what ADOR spent on their plastic surgery and skin care as trainees. Two sources told the Times the members were photographed from multiple angles before debut and some were recommended procedures.
Conduct: The contracts reportedly used vague terms such as "insincere attitude" and inappropriate dating. They also barred statements that could hurt the company's reputation, true or not.
Penalties: Korea's standard formula multiplies average monthly revenue by the months left. NewJeans' contracts reportedly averaged only months with revenue, which could raise the penalty.
After 2029: The Times reported ADOR could keep using or licensing the members' names, likenesses and voices after the contracts expire in 2029, including for AI voice cloning and chatbots. Experts said it's unclear whether that would hold up in a dispute.
Experts also told the Times the financial terms weren't especially unusual for K-pop, The Fader reported. U.S. entertainment lawyer Dina LaPolt said the deal would seem "horrific" to American artists.
The Kyunghyang Shinmun separately reported that HYBE's legal team drafted the contract, along with contracts for other HYBE labels.
How did HYBE respond to the New York Times report?
Beyond its statements on school and procedures, HYBE said the penalty formula made no practical difference because the members earned revenue every month, according to The Kyunghyang Shinmun and TopStarNews.
HYBE representatives also defended the exit penalties by pointing to the company's investment in the members' training and careers, The Fader reported.
Could NewJeans' families negotiate the contracts?
In January 2022, one member's mother asked for revisions, the Times reported. An ADOR vice president reportedly replied that if she didn't agree, it would be better to reconsider the contract itself. All five members' parents signed.
The Times said a group as successful as NewJeans still faced these issues despite years of promised reforms and government involvement, Korean outlets reported.
What happened between NewJeans and ADOR?
Nov. 28, 2024: The members declared their contracts terminated, citing alleged breaches by ADOR. ADOR said the contracts remained valid and went to court.
March 2025: A Seoul court blocked the members' independent activities as NJZ.
Oct. 30, 2025: The Seoul Central District Court ruled the contracts valid. They run through 2029.
Nov. 12, 2025: ADOR said Haerin and Hyein would return. Minji, Hanni and Danielle said they had chosen to return, too.
Dec. 29, 2025: ADOR said Hanni would stay and ended Danielle's contract. It then sued Danielle, a family member and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin. The claim, first 43.1 billion won, was cut to 33.1 billion won, about $22 million, in June 2026.
Danielle's side called the termination retaliation and filed a complaint with the Korea Fair Trade Commission. The regulator opened an investigation of HYBE and ADOR in June 2026, Music Business Worldwide reported, noting that a probe is not a finding of wrongdoing.
What is NewJeans doing in 2026?
On July 22, the group's fourth debut anniversary, ADOR posted "2026 Summer of NewJeans" clips with Minji, Hanni, Haerin and Hyein. Danielle wasn't included.
ADOR called the clips special content for fans, not a comeback announcement, and Minji's return hadn't been formally confirmed. NewJeans' last release was the Japanese single "Supernatural" in June 2024.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
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Hat Tips:
The New York Times (Nov. 5, 2026), the original investigation into the contracts (paywalled; read through the coverage below)
The Kyunghyang Shinmun (Nov. 5, 2026), contract terms, HYBE's responses, the January 2022 exchange, the HYBE legal team detail and dispute background
TopStarNews (Nov. 6, 2026), contract terms, HYBE's responses and Danielle's Fair Trade Commission complaint
Stereogum (Nov. 5, 2026), the HYBE quote on cosmetic procedures and the reputation clause
The Fader (Nov. 5, 2026), expert views on the financial terms, Dina LaPolt's comment and HYBE's defense of the exit penalties
Soompi (Oct. 30, 2025), the court ruling on the contracts
Bandwagon (Oct. 31, 2025), the 2029 contract term and the March 2025 injunction
Soompi (Nov. 12, 2025), the members' return statements
Philstar (Dec. 29, 2025), Danielle's termination and Hanni staying
Korea JoongAng Daily (June 5, 2026), the Nov. 28, 2024 press conference and the reduced damages claim
Music Business Worldwide (June 30, 2026), the Fair Trade Commission investigation
The Herald Business (July 22, 2026), the anniversary clips, ADOR's statement and Minji's status
Korea JoongAng Daily (July 22, 2026), the four-member clips and NewJeans' last release
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