[theqoo] “NEWJEANS SHOULD’VE BEEN ALLOWED TO TERMINATE THEIR CONTRACT WITH HYBE” CRITICISM

In response to the court’s dismissal of NewJeans (NJZ) members’ request for an injunction to suspend their exclusive contract, a legal expert has spoken out against the decision.

Attorney Jang Seo-yeon from the public interest law foundation GongGam stated on the 23rd, in an article titled “Why a High Level of Trust Is Essential in K-pop Idol Contracts”, that “Idols are human beings before they are members of a specific group, and they should be able to choose for themselves who they want to engage in artistic activities with.”

Jang emphasized, “If an agency infringes on these basic rights, the artist should be able to terminate the contract,” adding that “the NewJeans members speaking out to protect their values and each other marks the beginning of a new chapter in idol human rights.”

She went on to explain, “Most idols begin preparing for debut while still minors and are made to sign 7-year contracts under the direction of the agency. This structure essentially contracts their entire lives as idols, not just simple service provision.”

She also pointed out, “The larger the investment, the more is demanded in terms of activity and time,” and noted that “excessive tours and events, frequent injuries, and worsening mental health highlight the systemic issue of long working hours for K-pop idols.”

1. Then pay the penalty fee and leave

2. Then don’t go to a big company and go to an indie label instead if you want to do your own music. They reaped all the benefits of big companies and now want to get rid of their contract? What kind of logic is that?

3. Of course it’s possible, if they pay the penalty fee

4. I’m just more and more shocked…

5. They can leave all they want but they have to pay

6. I like NewJeans but they need a stronger case if they want to insist like that…ㅜㅜ

7. I’m so tired of this

8. NewJeansㅜㅜ I hope that they’ll get to promote soonㅜㅜ

9. They are starting to media play againㅋㅋ

10. To be honest, this isn’t something NewJeans can say