"Extremely irresponsible"— The Korea Entertainment Producers' Association calls out NewJeans for premature contract termination with ADOR

On December 6, 2024, a South Korean media outlet SPOTV News reported that NewJeans faced strong criticism from the Korea Entertainment Producers' Association (KEPA). The organization released a statement where they strongly condemned the group's decision to unilaterally terminate their exclusive contract with ADOR.

KEPA expressed deep concerns over the implications of the group’s actions for South Korea’s entertainment industry. According to KEPA, exclusive contracts are built on mutual trust and shared commitments.

The association criticized NewJeans for failing to provide concrete evidence to justify their decision, which they argued violates both legal standards and industry norms. The statement read,

"“K-pop, which is our pride and a cultural asset that the world is paying attention to, is being shaken to its roots due to the New Jeans incident,” and “We can no longer tolerate this.”

As per SPOTV News, they further continued,

“An exclusive contract is not a simple contract, but the fruit of mutual trust and promise. We express great concern about the idea that an exclusive contract can be terminated based on unilateral claims alone. This is an extremely irresponsible act as a responsible party to the contract, and it disregards both legal standards and industry practices, and it deserves strong criticism.”

For those who don't know, The Korea Entertainment Producers’ Association (KEPA) is a key organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Korea’s cultural heritage while advancing its music and entertainment on the global stage.

KEPA also highlighted the damaging precedent this case could set for the K-pop industry, warning that such unilateral contract terminations could deter future investments.

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More about KEPA's latest statement on NewJeans and ADOR's ongoing conflict

KEPA further mentioned that the sudden exit of a successful group like NewJeans, just three years into their career, jeopardizes the sustainability of South Korea’s cultural and entertainment industries. Agencies invest significant time and resources into developing artists, and such actions could harm the artist-agency relationship and reduce confidence in the industry. They stated,

"The agency discovers and takes on the risk of nurturing artists, investing a huge amount of time and capital for this. It can be said that nurturing artists is not just a simple business relationship, but a product of mutual trust and dedication."

The association also addressed allegations of "tampering," where third parties are accused of influencing the group to breach their contract. KEPA expressed alarm over claims that internal personnel at ADOR may have conspired with external entities to facilitate the termination.

If true, KEPA stated, this would represent a sophisticated form of tampering, undermining trust in the entertainment sector. In light of these concerns, KEPA urged NewJeans to withdraw their termination claims, return to ADOR, and resume their normal activities.

This controversy follows NewJeans’ public announcement on November 29, 2024, where the group declared their contracts with ADOR null and void. They mentioned breaches of agreement, mistreatment, and unresolved internal disputes. The group claimed that ADOR failed to address their grievances, despite being given a 14-day period to comply with their demands.

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ADOR denied those allegations, insisting the contracts remain valid. They also expressed disappointment over the group’s public statement. The agency reaffirmed its commitment to supporting NewJeans and invited dialogue to resolve the situation.