Hybe defends NewJeans’ contracts amid scrutiny over leaked agreements

The Straits Times · The Straits Times · 2026-11-06 13:47 UTC

Hybe maintained the contracts complied with South Korean legal standards. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Ador and its parent company Hybe defended NewJeans’ exclusive contracts on Nov 6 following a US media investigation that raised questions about protections for minors, financial penalties and restrictions imposed on the members.

The response came after The New York Times published an investigation on Nov 5 examining contracts signed in 2022, when all five NewJeans members were minors. The report raised concerns about termination penalties, surveillance, the use of artists’ voices and likenesses, and the extent to which the members and their families could influence the agreements.

In a statement to local media, Hybe maintained the contracts complied with South Korean legal standards and were finalised after extensive negotiations involving the members, their parents and legal representatives.

Read the full story at The Straits Times · All coverage of this story