K-pop Industry Groups Call for Stricter Anti-Tampering Rules Following NewJeans Dispute

The five major organizations representing South Korea’s music industry have urged enhanced regulations against tampering following the conflict between NewJeans and HYBE’s subsidiary ADOR. The Korean Management Federation, the Korean Entertainment Producers Association, the Korean Music Label Industry Association, the Korean Record Industry Association, and the Korean Music Content Association issued a joint statement on the 19th warning that “if tampering continues to succeed, South Korea’s entertainment management industry will collapse.” Tampering is a concept derived from sports terminology, referring to situations where another party contacts an artist under contract with an agency to negotiate business terms before the contract expires. The organizations emphasized that “tampering can instantly destroy agencies that have endured significant financial risks and investments over extended periods.” According to the statement, the parties involved in the dispute failed to resolve the issue through proper negotiations or legal procedures over the past 10 months, opting instead for media campaigns and unilateral public statements. Examples cited included former ADOR CEO Minhee Jin’s press conference, member Hanni’s appearance at a parliamentary oversight hearing, and the group’s independent activities. The organizations stated that “such actions led government agencies and lawmakers to question whether the K-pop industry possesses the capacity for self-regulation, resulting in increased regulatory measures.” While they do not oppose regulation itself, they argue that matters such as contract settlements between companies and artists and working conditions for minors should be discussed individually. Citing the introduction of anti-harassment laws following Hanni’s parliamentary hearing in October, they warned that if bills continue to pass without adequate consideration of the industry, the entire K-pop sector could face excessive regulatory burdens. The organizations asserted that “the key to preventing tampering lies in the faithful fulfillment of exclusive contracts” and called for institutional support similar to that used to protect critical national industries like semiconductors. They further emphasized that “if tampering sets a precedent, the entertainment management industry, which plays a crucial role in the growth of the K-pop industry, could collapse,” adding that “this issue could escalate beyond domestic disputes to a situation where foreign capital might take control of the entire K-pop industry.” Meanwhile, the parents of NewJeans members have countered the organizations’ claims through their Instagram account @njz_pr, stating that “the assertion that the K-pop industry has suffered fatal damage is untrue; rather, it is the members of NJZ who have been harmed by one-sided and unbalanced media coverage.” The parents also argued that “this is a dispute between a specific agency and certain entertainers, not a problem affecting the entire K-pop industry,” and claimed that “the members’ courageous decisions could provide an opportunity to make K-pop healthier and more creative.” NewJeans is set to perform at the Global Music Festival ComplexCon in Hong Kong from the 21st to 23rd of next month, and the fact that tickets for Sunday’s show on the 23rd sold out first demonstrates the group’s strong ticket appeal.