K-Pop Industry Leaders Call for Fair Treatment of Artists

On February 27, 2025, a press conference titled 'Let's Keep a Promise: Without Record Producers, There is No K-Pop' was held at the JW Marriott Hotel in Banpo, Seoul. This event was organized by five major organizations in the music industry, including the Korea Management Federation (한국매니지먼트연합), the Korea Entertainment Producers Association (한국연예제작자협회), the Korea Music Label Industry Association (한국음악레이블산업협회), the Korea Recording Industry Association (한국음반산업협회), and the Korea Music Content Association (한국음악콘텐츠협회) to advocate for the fair protection of rights within the music industry.

Choi Kang-ho, Secretary-General of the Korea Music Content Association, emphasized the need for the '3ECT Code'—Connect, Respect, and Protect—as essential for the sustainable development of the popular music industry. He stated, "The foundation of the music industry lies in the exclusive contracts between agencies and artists. These relationships should be viewed as partnerships rather than employer-employee dynamics. However, recent developments threaten this partnership, with rival agencies, large capital, and fanbases pushing for artist departures, leading to an increase in contract violations and tampering. The pressure from fan clubs is also significant, as they often force agencies to question their capabilities, creating a climate of fear regarding contract terminations. A revision of the standard exclusive contract that aligns with current times is necessary."

The organizations also addressed the NewJeans incident from the previous year, where member Hani reported workplace harassment after overhearing a manager from another artist tell her to 'ignore' her. This incident escalated to a national audit, and NewJeans eventually claimed a breach of contract with their agency, Ador, leading them to pursue independent activities. Ador has since filed a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the contract and sought a temporary injunction against the group, but NewJeans has announced their re-debut under the name NJZ, indicating a significant rift.

Choi further commented on the disparity in earnings within the industry, noting that while a company employee may earn around 50 million KRW, they might be working with artists who earn hundreds of millions. He expressed concern over the perception that artists' claims are accepted as truth before any legal judgment, highlighting the need to consider the perspectives of managers and the impact on agency employees who face job insecurity when artists leave unexpectedly. He urged a reevaluation of who the true vulnerable parties are in this industry.

While discussing the NewJeans situation, Choi clarified that the association's focus is on principles rather than specific cases, acknowledging the discomfort fans may feel but stressing that the conversation extends beyond just NewJeans. He pointed out that while the presence of figures like Min Hee-jin from HYBE and NewJeans is significant, many others contribute to the industry. He lamented that while artists can voice their grievances publicly, agencies often remain silent.

Lee Nam-kyung, Director of the Korea Management Federation, noted that the era where agencies could manage every aspect of an artist's life is over. He warned that the current exclusive contracts allow for too many loopholes, making it difficult for agencies to maintain their positions when disputes arise. He described the act of unilaterally terminating contracts as a dangerous precedent that undermines trust in exclusive agreements, advocating for resolution within legal frameworks.

Kim Myung-soo, Head of the Korea Entertainment Producers Association, stressed the need to approach the issue of tampering from a protective standpoint, calling for clear definitions of non-compete obligations and durations to prevent tampering from rendering contracts meaningless.

The organizations collectively appealed for government and legislative support to eradicate tampering in the industry.