"Plastic Surgery Costs Borne by Members": NYT Reveals NewJeans' Contract

The exclusive contract signed by K-POP girl group NewJeans omitted key provisions intended to protect underage performers, according to a report by The New York Times. The members were 14 to 17 years old when they signed the deal in 2022.

The Times reported on Nov. 5 that it had obtained the contract, which the members signed with ADOR, a label under HYBE. The newspaper had five legal experts review the document. They identified several clauses that differed from the South Korean government's standard exclusive contract for entertainers.

The standard contract includes provisions protecting minors' physical and mental health, as well as their rights to education, sleep and rest. It also prohibits agencies from requiring underage performers to endure excessive physical exposure or work excessively long hours. According to the Times, these protections were not included in NewJeans' contract.

The report said the members often practiced late into the night before their debut, sometimes until 2 a.m. Four of the five members reportedly dropped out of school.

HYBE disputed suggestions that it had mistreated the members. The company said it complies with child protection laws and had never forced the members to leave school or punished them for taking breaks.

Other clauses placed restrictions on the members' personal lives and public statements. The contract prohibited an "insincere attitude," "neglecting self-management" and "inappropriate romantic relationships." It also barred members from publicly making statements that could damage the company's reputation or credibility, regardless of whether they were true. The legal experts said such broadly worded restrictions could give the agency considerable discretion in determining what constitutes a contract violation.

The contract also required members to repay a substantial portion of certain cosmetic expenses incurred during their trainee years, including costs related to skin care, plastic surgery and body correction. The Times cited sources who said some members had been advised to undergo cosmetic procedures before their debut. HYBE said it does not force artists to undergo plastic surgery or recommend procedures against their wishes.

The report also raised questions about the early termination penalty. Under the agreement, the penalty is calculated using average monthly revenue from months in which revenue was generated, multiplied by the remaining contract period.

The Times noted that excluding months with no revenue from the calculation could raise the average monthly figure and result in a higher penalty. HYBE countered that the members generate revenue every month, meaning the calculation method would not affect the actual amount.

Another provision allows ADOR to continue using the members' names, images and voices even after their contracts expire in 2029. The company could also authorize third parties to use those rights. The Times reported that the provision could extend to AI voice cloning and chatbots, although its legal enforceability remains unclear.

In a written statement to the Times, HYBE said the contract was lawful and negotiated in good faith. The company argued that the government's standard contract is a recommendation rather than a legally binding requirement. It also said the members' parents had agreed to the contract terms.

The report comes amid a long-running legal dispute between NewJeans and ADOR. In November 2024, the group announced that it was terminating its exclusive contract with the agency. A court ruled in October 2025 that the contract remained valid. The members did not appeal, making the ruling final.

Haerin, Hyein and Hanni have since returned to ADOR. Minji remains in talks with the agency about her future activities. She appeared alongside the other three members in content released in July ahead of the group's fourth debut anniversary.

ADOR terminated Danielle's contract in December 2025 and filed a lawsuit seeking damages from her.