Korean music industry calls for law to prevent tampering amid NJZ controversy

NewJeans members, from left, Haerin, Danielle, Minji, Hanni and Hyein, attend a press conference at Space Share Samsung Center in Gangnam District, Seoul, regarding the group's contract termination, Nov. 28. Yonhap

By Pyo Kyung-min

• Published Feb 19, 2025 4:25 PM KST
• Updated Feb 20, 2025 11:17 AM KST

Five major Korean music industry associations issued a statement on Wednesday urging the government to enact legislation to prevent tampering practices, an issue that has caused turmoil in the K-pop industry after the ongoing dispute between girl group NJZ, formerly NewJeans, and its agency, Ador.

Tampering, a term originally used in professional sports but now also used in Korea's entertainment industry, refers to unauthorized contact with artists who are still under contract, with the intent to lure them away.

Through an official press release, the Korea Management Federation, the Korea Entertainment Producer's Association, the Record Label Industry Association of Korea, the Recording Industry Association of Korea and the Korea Music Content Association called for regulatory measures "to ensure the healthy and sustainable development of the pop culture and arts industry."

"We urge certain agencies and artists to stop manipulating public opinion for their own benefit," the statement read. "We also earnestly request the National Assembly and the government to implement policy support to eradicate tampering."

The organizations directly cited the ongoing NJZ controversy, which, according to them, began when former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin held a press conference in April last year. They said the issue has been dragging on for over 10 months, with the five members of NewJeans announcing their departure from the label and proclaiming a new group name, NJZ.

The group criticized what they saw as a growing trend in the industry, stating, "Rather than resolving disputes through negotiations or legal channels, certain parties increasingly resort to swaying public opinion and unilateral declarations."

Given K-pop's prominence, they argued that public opinion could be "easily swayed without proper fact-checking or criticism," as seen in the NJZ case.

"Because K-pop garners significant public attention, mere allegations can dominate portal sites, online communities and social media for extended periods. These claims can be accepted as fact without proper verification, rebuttal or criticism."

The groups expressed concern that this phenomenon could lead policymakers to "perceive K-pop as lacking self-regulation, prompting unnecessary government interventions."

As an example, they pointed to the workplace harassment prevention bill proposed after NJZ member Hanni appeared at a National Assembly hearing in October.

While acknowledging that artists should be treated with dignity in all work environments, they cautioned that "the public also raised concerns that K-pop artists were being used for political spectacle."

They warned that if industry-wide considerations were not put into law, the entire K-pop scene could face "frequent legislative upheavals, harming everyone in it."

"If laws are passed without thorough discussion, unpredictable regulatory environments will destabilize the industry, ultimately impacting everyone involved in K-pop," they said, urging policymakers to take a balanced approach by "considering the employment status of artists, the working conditions of others in the industry and broader industry perspectives."

'NJZ must not set precedent'

"Last year's NewJeans' press conference exposed private disputes between artists and agencies to the public without filters," the groups said. "Now, we see cases where artists pursue independent activities even before legal rulings on their contractual disputes."

They argued that such tampering practices could devastate entertainment agencies, which carry the financial risks of developing talent over long periods. "Agencies invest heavily in artists' potential success, assuming all risks. Tampering can destroy them overnight."

Since tampering occurs covertly, they noted, proving such cases is difficult and existing legal frameworks offer little protection.

"Even if tampering is exposed, holding perpetrators accountable remains challenging in the absence of specific legal measures."

The groups noted that the NJZ case should not set a dangerous precedent.

"If tampering attempts succeed, Korea's entertainment management industry will collapse. This issue extends beyond domestic disputes — foreign capital could step in and take over the K-pop industry entirely."

Emphasizing that "the enforcement of exclusive contracts" is key to preventing tampering, the groups urged lawmakers to treat the issue with the same level of importance as semiconductor protection laws.

"Just as Korea has enacted regulations to safeguard key industries like semiconductors, the government must establish measures to curb tampering and ensure contract integrity ... Tampering-related disputes are not just industry squabbles — they pose a major risk to one of Korea's most vital industries. We urge the government to act accordingly."