Korea Management Association Give Its Position Regarding NewJeans Contract Termination

With NewJeans declaring the termination of their exclusive contracts with ADOR, the Korea Management Association has revealed its position regarding the news.

On December 3, the association released an official statement expressing their intent.

The recent dispute between ADOR and NewJeans has negatively impacted pop culture and the art industry in various ways. The association is expressing its position on NewJeans and the problems with the exclusive contract as well as the public’s perspective and the emptiness felt by industry workers, in hopes that the industry will take a step forward from the perspective of industry workers.

— Korea Management Association

They also said they respected the “exclusive contracts between artists and agencies based on mutual trust.” As this trust is built over time, they feel that “simply having a problem doesn’t constitute a reason for contract termination.”

Furthermore, they stated that claims such as this could impact the industry.

“We must be careful, as the loss of contract validity through unilateral claims to terminate a contract can greatly impact the overall exclusive contract.

The termination of the contract should be decided carefully, and the issue should be discussed with the premise of maintaining the contract.”

— Korea Management Association

They felt that NewJeans had no intention of making mutual efforts to maintain the contract.

“The current position of NewJeans can only be interpreted as not having any intention of making mutual efforts to maintain the contract.

The current law does not take any measures that consider the company’s position. In cases where the contract is maliciously terminated, there is no way to maintain the contract other than claiming damages. With this, NewJeans’ approach can be seen as malicious.

Therefore, the association hopes that NewJeans will withdraw the termination of the contract, engage in communication with the company, and resolve the dispute without leading to a worse situation.”

— Korea Management Association

Korean netizens were appalled as they felt the position of the association was not necessary.

• “What are they saying.”
• “Who are they to say what another person’s contract can and cannot do.”
• “Management association…who are you guys?”
• “I knew this was coming. Coming from a management association, they only talk about the agency’s position and nothing about the actual problem.”
• “I guess they are scared that their idols will all run away.”
• “Watch this association only consist of 2-3 people.”
• “Who are you guys?”
• “Seeing everyone being pressed about the issue, I guess that means contract termination is possible for NewJeans!”