A well-known human rights attorney has criticized a recent court ruling that denied an injunction request by members of NewJeans (NJZ) who were trying to end their exclusive contract with ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE.

Jang Seo Yeon, a lawyer affiliated with the nonprofit organization GongGam Human Rights Law Foundation, expressed in an article published on April 23 entitled “The Importance of Trust in K-pop Idol Contracts” that idols should have the right to choose who they collaborate with creatively. She emphasized that idols have the fundamental right to decide their artistic partners as individuals.

Jang raised concerns about the structure of lengthy idol contracts, noting that many K-pop idols, often underage when signing, are tied into extended contracts that heavily favor management agencies. She criticized the lack of clarity in specifying the agency's responsibilities while outlining the idols' duties, leading to an imbalanced power dynamic.

Regarding NewJeans, Jang highlighted the group's reliance on Min Hee Jin, the former ADOR CEO, who played a significant role in their artistic direction and the initial contract. She argued that replacing key personnel without the members' consent breached their trust.

While the court ruled in favor of ADOR, stating that the company had fulfilled its payment obligations to the artists, Jang pointed out that the judgment did not consider the erosion of trust resulting from internal leadership changes, which she believed compromised the fairness of the legal process.

Jang also criticized HYBE for allegedly leaking private footage and messages of trainees, contributing to negative public discussions and even xenophobic remarks. She stated that this behavior made the members feel insecure.

In conclusion, Jang asserted that forcing idols to work in such conditions violates their dignity and occupational freedom. She called for idols to be granted the right to terminate contracts when trust is broken, referencing a past ruling by South Korea’s Supreme Court on entertainers' contract terminations due to breached trust.

This case has sparked a wider conversation in South Korea about labor rights, particularly concerning young performers in the K-pop industry, and may prompt changes in how legal and human rights of idols are perceived in the entertainment field.