Hybe defends NewJeans' contracts amid scrutiny over leaked agreements

The Korea Herald · Kim Jae-heun · 2026-11-06 07:24 UTC

Ador and its parent company Hybe defended NewJeans' exclusive contracts on Friday following a US media investigation that raised questions about protection

Company says contracts complied with Korean standards and were negotiated with members, parents and legal representatives

Ador and its parent company Hybe defended NewJeans' exclusive contracts on Friday 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 Thursday 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.

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