Following a press announcement from five music industry organizations on February 19th—including the Korea Management Association, Korea Entertainment Producers Association, Korea Music Label Industry Association, Korea Recording Industry Association, and Korea Music Content Association—NJZ (formerly NewJeans) has responded forcefully. The industry organizations urged the Korean legislature to develop laws preventing what they see as tampering and public disputes that, in their words, threaten the K-Pop industry at large. In response, NJZ released a statement via NJZ PR, countering these claims and further making their case against HYBE, which they allege has continued to meddle in the group’s activities.
HYBE and Industry Associations Undermining Fairness
In their seven-point rebuttal, NJZ PR argues that the industry associations are presenting “unconfirmed matters as established facts” despite legal proceedings not yet beginning.
“It is truly regrettable that they are making statements that undermine the fairness of the trial.”
NJZ PR refutes the claim that the group has stirred controversy with public statements, countering that HYBE first used the media to make allegations public.
Media Manipulation and HYBE’s Timing
NJZ PR highlights the timing of HYBE’s initial moves, stating:
“Everyone also remembers that this media frenzy began less than a week before NewJeans’ comeback.”
This media push coincided with the release of How Sweet and Bubble Gum. NJZ PR questions why the music organizations remained silent when HYBE allegedly sabotaged NewJeans’ comeback.
Who Are the Real Victims?
NJZ PR challenges the claim that the K-Pop industry is suffering due to the dispute. Instead, they argue that NJZ members, their fans, and the general public are the true victims of HYBE’s actions. They also emphasize that HYBE’s stock price drop is HYBE’s problem, not the industry’s burden.
The Reality of Contractual Exploitation
While NJZ PR acknowledges that misinformation spreads on social media, they assert that HYBE’s media dominance ensures their narrative remains unchallenged.
“Even now, the media is filled with articles solely representing HYBE’s claims and interests.”
The associations specifically requested that contract disputes remain private, but NJZ PR argues that, in both public and private settings, members of NJZ and other artists have no formal recourse for disputes with their agency.
“There was no organization or space where trainees and artists could report injustices.”
They emphasize that trainees have historically relied solely on their agency’s moral integrity, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.
NJZ Members Are No Longer Bound to HYBE
NewJeans Emergency Press Conference Nov. 28th
NJZ PR stresses that the members legally terminated their contracts after mistreatment by HYBE, and ADOR was powerless to intervene.
“Under the law, contract termination takes effect immediately.”
They accuse HYBE of attempting to “ruin their careers” and reaffirm that the members are no longer contractually tied to HYBE.
A Call for Industry Reform
NJZ PR underscores the dedication required of all K-Pop idols, criticizing the industry for treating these relationships as transactional.
“Trainees dedicate their precious youth and personal lives to this path.”
They call for industry-wide reform to protect artists from exploitation and outdated practices.
Accusations of Media Manipulation
NJZ PR directly calls out the five industry organizations for their planned press event regarding their legislative request, questioning their motives.
“Isn’t this exactly what media manipulation looks like?”
Final Plea for Fairness
NJZ PR concludes by urging these associations to stop acting as a mouthpiece for HYBE and instead push for meaningful reform in the industry. They call for sustainable growth, fairness for artists, and comprehensive industry-wide changes.
NewJeans rebrands as NJZ (Source: ComplexCon Hong Kong)
Full statement by NJZ_PR
This morning, I saw that five organizations—the Korea Entertainment Management Association, the Korea Entertainment Producers Association, the Korea Music Label Industry Association, the Korea Music Industry Association, and the Korea Music Content Association—distributed a public statement to the media.
It is truly regrettable that they are making statements that undermine the fairness of the trial by presenting unconfirmed matters as established facts, despite knowing full well that the preliminary injunction and main proceedings have not even begun yet. As always, I would like to acknowledge that this may be a long message, as artists have fewer channels to express their positions compared to companies that can freely do so through associations and major media outlets.
1. In their statement, the five organizations claim that the NJZ members are attempting to resolve what should be private matters or disputes through public opinion and unilateral declarations rather than through discussions between the parties involved or legal procedures. However, I believe the public remembers who it was that first stirred public opinion by widely publicizing baseless suspicions in the media to remove the former CEO of ADOR, who was trying to address serious internal issues at HYBE.
At the time, HYBE either deliberately encouraged or allowed the media to be flooded with absurd articles about ‘tampering’ and ‘gaslighting’ related to NewJeans. Everyone also remembers that this media frenzy began less than a week before NewJeans’ comeback. No agency would ever do something like this right before their artist’s comeback. I would like to ask where these associations were and what they were doing at that time.
2. The five organizations also claim that the K-pop industry is suffering serious damage because private disputes are being unilaterally made public and turned into controversies. However, the ones who have suffered the most from this one-sided and unbalanced media coverage are the NJZ members, along with their fans and the general public who love and support music. This harm continues to this day.
Additionally, the drop in HYBE’s stock price and other damages resulting from their own actions are HYBE’s problems, not the K-pop industry’s problem. It is clear that these associations are using their name to represent the interests of a single company rather than the industry as a whole.
3. The five organizations argue that even the mere presentation of suspicions can dominate portal sites, online communities, and social media for an extended period and be accepted as fact without proper fact-checking, rebuttal, or criticism. This is the only part of their statement that is actually true.
A flood of false claims surrounding the NJZ members has dominated portal sites, online communities, and social media. Even now, the media is filled with articles solely representing HYBE’s claims and interests, and many reckless channels are broadcasting unverified opinions as expert views.
It is heartbreaking to see that individual artists are unable to stop this or actively protect themselves. I believe this feeling of helplessness toward the associations and the industry’s structure is shared by many entertainment workers, artists, trainees, and their families.
4. The five organizations criticize the NJZ members for engaging in independent activities despite not having legally terminated their exclusive contracts with ADOR, and they argue that if contracts are broken unilaterally without legal protection, the foundation of the K-pop industry will collapse. However, this is a completely misleading claim meant to deceive the public.
From the perspective of the families who had to watch their children go through this since they were underage trainees, there was no organization or space where trainees and artists could report injustices or seek protection despite experiencing contractual breaches and internal mistreatment. They had no choice but to rely solely on the company’s moral integrity, leaving them in a blind spot when it came to basic rights.
The NJZ members have taken courageous steps to voice their grievances and protect themselves through proper legal procedures, despite knowing the difficulties they would face. Yet, the associations are taking sides by only arguing about the industry’s stability—essentially, the company’s losses. I would like to remind them how contradictory this stance is.
5. As is widely known, HYBE has openly discriminated against the NJZ members, attacked them, and attempted to ruin their careers. ADOR, a label under HYBE, neither had the ability nor the willingness to prevent this. In fact, as seen in the case of attacking Dolphin Kidnapping Group, they even tried to undermine the very foundation of NewJeans’ entertainment activities. Because of this, the NJZ members could no longer endure the situation and were inevitably forced to terminate their exclusive contracts. Under the law, contract termination takes effect immediately, meaning their exclusive contracts with ADOR have now ended. Therefore, from the moment of termination, the members are no longer bound by contractual restrictions and are free to continue their activities as they wish. This is an obvious legal principle under Korean law. The fact that ADOR and HYBE are now calling for legislative action ahead of the trial only highlights how unreasonable and unconvincing their claims regarding the contract are.
The statements released today by the associations raise concerns that, rather than protecting individual rights, they are instead devising methods to enforce an invisible, legalized form of violence. Their argument makes it sound as if the K-pop industry would collapse unless exclusive contracts are operated in a manner akin to slavery.
This issue is ultimately a dispute between a specific agency and its artists over unfair treatment. It is not something that affects the entire K-pop industry. In fact, the members’ courageous decision may serve as an opportunity for the industry to become healthier and filled with more diverse and creative artists. Furthermore, it is truly regrettable that they have framed initial investments as if they create a debtor-creditor relationship. Trainees dedicate their precious youth and personal lives to this path. Therefore, the duty of good faith is a mutual obligation between both parties in a contract, not a one-sided responsibility. I hope this situation becomes an opportunity for artists, trainees, and the fans who support them to no longer waste their valuable time due to those who exploit outdated customs and practices for their own gain while failing to uphold their own responsibilities.
6. While organizing this statement, a journalist provided a tip. The five associations that released the statement today are not stopping at distributing a press release—they are planning to hold a press conference on February 27 (Thursday) at JW Marriott Hotel, inviting numerous journalists. There was even an option for a lunch provision at this press conference, but considering that the price of a JW Marriott lunch is at least 100,000 KRW (approximately $75 USD) per person, I wonder if many journalists can attend, given the Kim Young-ran Act (Anti-Graft Law). It raises questions about whether such an overtly intentional luncheon aimed at the media is realistically appropriate. Additionally, the five associations didn’t just distribute their statement in the morning—they redistributed the exact same content around 1 PM in the afternoon. If it wasn’t a correction or update, what was the purpose of reissuing the same statement on the same day? Isn’t this exactly what media manipulation looks like?
I respectfully request that these five associations stop their attempt to manipulate public opinion by representing only one side—the agency’s stance and claims. For the sustainable growth of the K-pop industry, agencies must be held accountable for treating artists merely as profit-generating tools, as if they are disposable parts that can be replaced at any time. This issue will be resolved through the court’s ruling.
7. Not long ago, a representative from ComplexCon, who has been assisting with our performance preparations, informed us that HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk personally made phone calls to contacts in the U.S., pressuring them to cancel NJZ members’ performances. Would it be too much to suspect that today’s sudden joint statement from the five associations might be connected to this? We found it extremely upsetting and infuriating. It confirmed our belief that HYBE has not changed at all—they still see the members purely as a means to make money and, rather than supporting them, are only interested in obstructing and ruining them. We have also received reports that ADOR has been making attempts to interfere in various ways.
Chairman, back in April 2024, we sent you a formal complaint email and requested a response from you. However, we have yet to receive any reply. If you have so much to say, why don’t you call us directly instead of going elsewhere? We also fail to understand why the chairman of HYBE as a whole is personally intervening in what is supposed to be a dispute between us and ADOR. Do you still believe you can claim that HYBE and ADOR are separate entities?
NJZ members are set to perform at ComplexCon in Hong Kong. Having finally escaped from the dreadful environment of HYBE and ADOR, they are excited and eager to present themselves in a new light to fans around the world. Despite the interference, the Hong Kong ComplexCon performance will proceed as planned, and we sincerely ask fans to continue their unwavering support and encouragement.
Thank you for taking the time to read this long statement, and as always, we deeply apologize for any disturbance caused. Wishing you all a warm and pleasant day.
