On March 3, KEMA’s Special Committee for Rewards and Ethics (hereafter “Ethics Committee”) released an official position asserting that the allegations surrounding NewJeans constitute a serious issue that could undermine the foundations and trust order of South Korea’s popular culture and arts industry. The committee stressed that the case should not be viewed as a simple private dispute but as a matter with broader implications for the K-pop ecosystem.
At the center of the controversy are suspicions that Min Hee-jin, CEO of OK Records and former CEO of ADOR, may have been involved behind the scenes in NewJeans’ declaration to terminate their exclusive contracts. Media reports previously claimed that the November 28, 2024 press conference announcing the contract termination was orchestrated under Min’s direction, including allegations that she drafted scripts for the members and was involved in preparing rebuttal materials.
“If such reports are true, this would constitute a typical case of tampering — one of the most chronic illegal practices in the entertainment industry,” the Ethics Committee stated. It called on Min Hee Jin to provide a clear explanation and to take responsibility, including issuing a formal apology, should the allegations prove factual.
The committee also referenced additional reports alleging that Min met with prominent foreign figures — including a Japanese racing industry executive and the CEO of Hong Kong-based Complex China — during the period when NewJeans’ exclusive contract with ADOR was still legally valid. According to media claims, discussions may have taken place regarding potential future activities or investment scenarios involving the group.
KEMA emphasized that if NewJeans members were mobilized in such meetings without proper contractual standing, it could represent a serious infringement on the artists’ personal rights and interests. The association demanded clarification regarding who represented the group in these discussions while their exclusive contract remained in effect.
In its statement, the Ethics Committee urged HYBE not to downplay the matter as a mere personal or financial conflict. “If this issue is superficially resolved for the sake of image management, it could destabilize contractual order and trust across the entire industry,” the committee warned, adding that unresolved disputes may discourage future investment and creative risk-taking within K-entertainment.
The association further stressed that “tampering” — defined as third-party interference in an artist’s exclusive contract — must be eradicated. It declared that industry figures found to have attempted such acts should be permanently expelled from the entertainment field.
“This is not simply a legal matter but a critical issue for the sustainability of K-pop and the broader cultural industry,” the committee concluded. It called for clear fact-finding by judicial authorities and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ethical management practices and fair dispute resolution mechanisms.
As the legal battle between HYBE and Min Hee Jin continues to unfold, the public stance taken by KEMA signals escalating institutional pressure — and underscores the potential long-term ramifications of the NewJeans tampering controversy on the structure of the K-pop industry itself.
Sources: OSEN,Newsen
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