I can sense naver comment section will be full of rage from NJZ haters.the girls are really farming their karma points these days. We got your back, girls!!
“The NewJeans Dispute Reveals Unfair Contract Structures in the Idol Industry” – A Human Rights Lawyer’s Critique
Reporter Kim Na-yeon
[Interview] Attorney Jang Seo-yeon of the GongGam Public Interest Lawyers Group for Human Rights
“Long-term 7-year contracts without understanding of rights and obligations are unfair.
Agencies must respect idols’ voices.
Sensational reporting by media and portals also to blame.”
Attorney Jang Seo-yeon, a human rights lawyer with the GongGam Public Interest Law Foundation, has called for reform of the entertainment industry’s practice of requiring long-term exclusive contracts from idols, calling it an “unfair contract structure” in light of the dispute between NewJeans (NJZ) and their agency, ADOR.
In an interview with Women’s News on the 24th, Jang stated, “The most urgent issue that needs to be addressed is the excessively long exclusive contract period of seven years,” adding, “There needs to be a system that ensures idols are thoroughly informed of their rights and obligations at the time of signing.” She also emphasized the need for a “credible mediation body.”
She expressed hope that “this case will be remembered as a significant example of respecting the voices of idols themselves.”
Jang continued, “Even if an agency fulfills its obligation to settle earnings, that doesn’t mean their responsibilities end there. A structure is needed that reflects the idol’s mental, physical state, and intentions throughout their entertainment activities.” She added, “I hope this case becomes a legal precedent to evaluate how agencies are required to maintain the ‘high level of trust’ in long-term exclusive contracts.”
On the 23rd, Attorney Jang published a legal commentary on the NewJeans exclusive contract dispute, criticizing the “imbalanced contract structure centered on agencies” in the entertainment industry. She stressed that “agencies should bear the legal responsibility to maintain a high level of trust, and if that trust is broken, idols should be granted the legal right to terminate the contract.”
Jang also criticized the indiscriminate reporting competition among entertainment media and “cyber wreckers” (YouTubers or influencers who exploit scandals for profit) that emerged in the wake of the NewJeans dispute. In her interview, she said, “Portals bear a huge responsibility. In their race for clicks, media outlets are pushing out sensational content just to maximize portal exposure.” She continued, “Even after repeated tragic events involving celebrities, there’s no effort toward self-reflection. Regulation is now necessary.”
She further pointed out that “in this case as well, not only NewJeans but female celebrities in general were disproportionately targeted by malicious media coverage.” She specifically criticized the reporting of private messages by former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin as a form of personal attack, saying, “This behavior highlights the need for clear ethical standards in entertainment journalism.”
Jang also emphasized the need to raise gender sensitivity in production environments and across entertainment agencies. “While there are some regulations limiting overly sexualized concepts for underage idols, women in the idol industry remain exposed to environments that make them vulnerable to sexual violence.” She noted that while sexual violence against female entertainers may qualify as grounds for contract termination, “the current standard contracts and industry norms still fall far short of incorporating sufficient gender sensitivity.”
Meanwhile, NewJeans and ADOR have been in an ongoing contract dispute since November 2024. On November 29, NewJeans notified ADOR of their intent to terminate their exclusive contract and announced plans to pursue independent activities. ADOR responded by filing a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract and requested an injunction to prevent the members from engaging in independent promotions.
On March 21, the court granted ADOR’s request, acknowledging their substantial support for the members and stating that there was no evidence of major contract violations such as failure to settle earnings. The court also stated, “Even if there were minor shortcomings in ADOR’s execution of contractual duties, it is difficult to conclude that the foundation of trust in the exclusive contract has collapsed.” NewJeans challenged the ruling, but their objection was dismissed on March 16. They have since filed an immediate appeal.
Regarding Jang’s commentary and the broader NewJeans dispute, ADOR told Women’s News, “We have no particular comment.”