▲ This logo of the Korea Entertainment Producers Association (KEPA) is provided by the private organization. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Dec. 6 (Yonhap) -- As the contract dispute between NewJeans and their agency, ADOR, escalates into a legal battle, the Korea Entertainment Producers Association (KEPA) has criticized NewJeans' decision to terminate their exclusive contract.

 

In a statement issued on Friday, KEPA urged the group to reconsider their stance, saying, “We request NewJeans to retract their baseless and irresponsible claims and return to their original intent to continue normal activities. If they have been pursuing independent entertainment activities domestically or internationally, they must cease such actions immediately and adopt a forward-looking attitude by engaging in dialogue with their agency.”

 

On November 28, NewJeans held a press conference announcing the termination of their exclusive contract, citing ADOR’s failure to fulfill contractual obligations. However, ADOR countered this claim by filing a lawsuit on December 3 to confirm the validity of the contract.

 

▲ K-pop girl group NewJeans members hold a press conference in Gangnam, southern Seoul, on Nov. 28, 2024. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

 

KEPA emphasized that exclusive contracts are more than mere agreements, calling them "the result of mutual trust and commitment." The association expressed concerns over the notion that a contract could be unilaterally terminated based solely on one party's claims.

 

The statement criticized NewJeans for bypassing contractual procedures, making excessive demands for corrections outside the agreed terms, and unilaterally announcing contract termination through a press conference. KEPA labeled such actions as "highly irresponsible for a party bound by a contract."

 

The KEPA warned that the unilateral termination by NewJeans, a highly successful group in their third year, sets a dangerous precedent that could jeopardize the sustainability of South Korea’s cultural and entertainment industry.

 

KEPA is an organization composed of representatives in the entertainment, music, and performance sectors of South Korea’s cultural and arts industries.

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