South Korea's leading music organizations have issued a statement urging the government and National Assembly to take action against 'tampering' in the entertainment industry. They also called for an end to public opinion manipulation involving certain agencies and artists.

On February 19, five major industry groups—the Korea Entertainment Management Association, the Korea Entertainment Producers Association, the Korea Music Labels Industry Association, the Korea Music Industry Association, and the Korea Music Content Association—released a joint statement addressing the dispute between NewJeans and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin.

Concerns Over NewJeans' Independent Activities

The statement criticized the way Min Hee-jin and NewJeans have handled their ongoing conflict with HYBE, citing Min's press conference, Hanni's appearance at a National Assembly hearing, and the group's independent activities as actions that bypass legal procedures and formal negotiations.

The organizations expressed concern over NewJeans' recent independent moves, stating:
"They sought to operate independently even before receiving a legal ruling. This has fueled public opinion, jeopardizing the stability of the K-Pop industry."

They further warned that if such actions continue unchecked, it could lead to a precedent that undermines the industry's contractual framework.

Tampering: A Growing Threat to K-Pop

The groups called for urgent measures against 'tampering,' referring to illicit attempts to lure artists away from their current contracts.
"If tampering attempts succeed, the entertainment management industry will collapse," they stated.

They also warned of the risk posed by foreign capital interference, stressing that K-Pop as a whole could be overtaken by external entities.

Using NewJeans' recent actions as an example, the organizations stated:
"NewJeans has recently announced a new activity name and a new agency. If contracts can be unilaterally broken through public declarations, the foundation of K-Pop's sustainability will be at risk."

Call for Government and Legislative Action

The groups urged the government and National Assembly to recognize tampering as a major threat to the K-Pop industry, rather than dismissing it as a simple business dispute.

"Tampering-related controversies are not just conflicts between industry stakeholders. They pose a serious risk to K-Pop, which is a major pillar of South Korea's cultural and economic exports," the statement concluded.