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K-pop group NewJeans signed contracts as teenagers that waived their rights to "sleep, rest and free choice," according to a New York Times report published Thursday, which said the record label also removed standard child-protection language from the agreements.
The five members were between 14 and 17 when they signed with Ador, a subsidiary of entertainment giant Hybe, the Times reported.
The contracts barred the performers from having an "insincere attitude" and from "inappropriate romantic relationships," the report said.
The label also dropped standard language protecting the members’ "basic human rights," including their right to education.
Ador also left out parts of a South Korean government template contract for K-pop artists, the report said. The omitted language said a label "Shall not demand that a performer who is a minor engage in excessive physical exposure or overly sexually suggestive expression."
Hybe told the Times it complies with child-protection laws and works to ensure its artists train and work in safe conditions. It said its contracts were legal and negotiated in good faith.
NewJeans, made up of Minji, Hanni, Haerin, Hyein and Danielle, is one of the most popular K-pop acts. In 2023, it became the second Korean girl group, after Blackpink, to top the Billboard albums chart.
In November 2024, the members announced they were leaving the label amid contract disputes and claims that Ador had deliberately undermined their careers.
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