SEOUL — A recent investigative report by The New York Times has ignited fresh debate surrounding the music industry’s treatment of underage talent after examining the exclusive artist contract signed by members of the K-pop sensation New Jeans with their former label, ADOR.

According to the report published on December 5, the publication reviewed agreements signed in 2022 when the group members were between 14 and 17 years old, consulting five legal experts. The analysis revealed that the contracts lacked standard safeguards mandated by South Korea’s government guidelines for underage entertainers, such as explicit clauses protecting physical and mental well-being, educational rights, and guaranteed rest.

Anonymous sources cited in the report claimed that grueling rehearsal schedules lasting until 2:00 AM were not uncommon during their trainee days, and four out of the five members ultimately dropped out of school. In response, HYBE—ADOR's parent company—stated that it strictly complies with child protection laws and denied forcing members to abandon their studies or penalizing them for taking breaks.

Another point of contention involves beauty and grooming expenses. The contract reportedly required members to reimburse the agency for a significant portion of costs related to plastic surgery, skin care, and body shaping incurred during their trainee period. While two insiders alleged that cosmetic procedures were suggested to certain members prior to debut, HYBE strongly refuted these claims, maintaining that the company never mandated plastic surgery or pressured individuals into unwanted procedures.

The report also highlighted friction during the negotiation phase. Email exchanges published by The New York Times show that when a member’s mother requested revisions to the contract in January 2022, an ADOR executive responded that rejecting the initial draft might mean reconsidering the contract altogether. HYBE countered that the agreement was negotiated in good faith, that government standard contracts are non-binding recommendations, and that all adjustments were accepted by the members' parents.

Furthermore, legal experts interviewed by the publication raised concerns over vague behavioral restrictions—such as bans on "inappropriate romantic relationships" or "lax self-management"—which they argued could give the company overly broad grounds to claim contract breaches. Discussions regarding penalty calculations and post-termination rights to use the members' names, likenesses, and AI-generated voices also drew scrutiny amid an ongoing legal dispute that reportedly involves multi-million dollar claims following New Jeans' declaration of contract termination in 2024.

Despite the controversy, HYBE emphasized that the group debuted without any trainee debt, allowing members to receive profits immediately after launch, and that the financial terms align with standard industry practices.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]