NewJeans aka NJZ's parents accuse HYBE's Bang Si Hyuk, music organizations of conspiring against group ahead of their comeback

The parents of NJZ, also known as NewJeans, have released a statement criticizing Korea's major music organizations and Bang Si Hyuk, the founder of HYBE, for allegedly working together against the five-piece girl group comprising Hanni, Haerin, Minji, Danielle, and Hyein.

In a lengthy post on their shared Instagram account, the parents responded to a statement issued by five prominent Korean music organizations and claimed that Bang Si Hyuk was involved in an attempt to cancel NewJeans' upcoming performance at ComplexCon.

NJZ's parents accuse music organizations, Bang Si Hyuk of teaming up against the group

The parents of NewJeans have released a statement responding to a joint statement from five major Korean music organizations (KEMA, KEPA, LIAK, RIAK, and KMCA) that criticized the group's actions in their dispute with HYBE and ADOR. The parents argue that the music organizations are representing the interests of HYBE, rather than the entire K-pop industry. They also claim that HYBE boss Bang Si Hyuk has been personally involved in trying to cancel NewJeans' appearance at ComplexCon and is trying to block and destroy the group's career.

Read their full statement below:

This morning, we saw that five organizations¡ªKorea Entertainment Management Association (KEMA), Korea Entertainment Producers Association (KEPA), Korea Music Label Industry Association (LIAK), Korea Record Industry Association (RIAK), and Korea Music Content Association (KMCA))¡ªissued their statement to the media.

Despite having full knowledge that neither the preliminary injunction nor the trial has begun, they are making statements that undermine the objectivity of the trial by presenting unconfirmed information as facts. This is truly regrettable. As always, we ask for your understanding in advance that this may be a lengthy message, since there are few channels the artist can use to express their positions compared to companies that can freely use major media outlets and various associations.

1. The five organizations have claimed that the NJZ members are attempting to resolve a private dispute by involving public opinion and unilateral statements rather than holding negotiations or going through legal procedures. However, we believe the public surely will remember which side first started a media campaign, publicly spreading false allegations to remove former ADOR CEO (Min Hee Jin), who was simply trying to address the major issues within HYBE. At the time, HYBE both purposely created and turned a blind eye to the plethora of articles related to the accusations of ¡°tampering¡± or ¡°gaslighting¡± about NJZ. We believe everyone will also remember the media frenzy that started less than one week before their comeback. This is something no company would do just one week before their artists¡¯ comeback. We would like to ask where these music organizations were and what they were doing at that time.

2. The five music organizations also claimed that the entire K-Pop industry is suffering due to the private dispute that unilaterally became public, turning into a controversy. However, we believe the victims of this one-sided media coverage are the NJZ members, their fans, and the public who love music. The damage still continues today. Furthermore, HYBE¡¯s stock price decline and other damages are their problem, not the entire K-Pop industry¡¯s. This confirms these organizations are representing the interests of a specific company while presenting themselves as an organization for all.

3. The five music organizations claim that baseless allegations can be accepted as truths without proper fact-checking, a chance for rebuttal, or criticism and thus can take over portal sites, online communities, and social media for a long time. This is the only section of their statement that is actually correct. Numerous false statements about the NJZ members have taken over online communities, and even now, the media publishes articles that reflect HYBE¡¯s interests. At the same time, Cyber Wrecker channels are spreading their opinions as if they were the experts. It is heartbreaking to see how the celebrities themselves cannot stop this or defend themselves. We believe this is the lethargy regarding these music organizations that many involved in the entertainment industry, artists, trainees, and their families notice.

4. The five organizations have criticized the NJZ members for proceeding with their individual activities despite not having their exclusive contract with ADOR legally terminated. They argued that if such contracts can be broken unilaterally, the entire foundation of the K-Pop industry would collapse. However, we believe this claim is misleading and is only to deceive the public. From the family¡¯s perspective, as people who have watched over their children since they were all minors and trainees, we must emphasize that there has never been an organization or venue for trainees and artists to voice their complaints and seek protection when they face mistreatment or the company breaches the contract. These people have no choice but to solely rely on the company¡¯s morality and thus are in a situation where their basic rights aren¡¯t protected. From the members¡¯ viewpoint, it is contradictory for these organizations to take sides and argue about the potential instability of the industry when in reality they advocate for company profits. The members have mustered the courage to speak up and take legal action despite the difficult situation. We urge the organizations to reflect on their inconsistencies.

5. As many people know, HYBE has publicly discriminated against, attacked, and tried to take down the NJZ members while ADOR, a HYBE subsidiary, had neither the will nor capability to prevent this from happening. In fact, as we have seen in the situation regarding Dolphiners Films, they even went as far as trying to take down the base of NewJeans¡¯ career, their content. As a result, NJZ was left with no other choice but to terminate their contracts, as they could no longer endure what was happening to them. Legally, the contract termination goes into effect immediately, meaning their contracts with ADOR no longer exist. Therefore, the members were no longer bound to ADOR and were free to pursue their own activities. This is a simple principle of Korea¡¯s legal system. The fact that HYBE and ADOR are now pushing for legislative amendments right before the trial clearly demonstrates both how unreasonable and unconvincing their claims are. The statement shared by the five organizations today also raises concern that they are not only trying to excessively restrict the individual rights of artists but also are trying to find ways to impose an invisible form of legalized violence. Their claims make it sound like the entire K-Pop industry would collapse if contracts are not enforced like slave contracts.

The fundamental issue of this dispute is between an agency that mistreated its artist and the artist themselves. It does not impact the entire K-Pop industry. In fact, we believe the members¡¯ courage can set a new precedent for a healthier industry filled with a more diverse range of artists. It is with great regret that these organizations frame initial investments as a form of debt and take a one-sided stance on that issue. Trainees dedicated their youth and life to the life of an artist. The concept of good faith is something that should apply to both parties in a contract, not just one. We hope this situation will serve as an opportunity for young artists and trainees, who should be spending their brightest years pursuing their dreams, and their fans to no longer feel they have to be victims of the exploitation while certain people avoid their responsibilities to pursue personal interests.

6. While we were forming our response, a journalist approached us with new information. The five organizations did not just release this statement. They are also planning a press conference for Thursday, February 27 at the JW Marriott Hotel and inviting many journalists. We were told that they were even offered lunch. Given that lunch at the hotel costs at least ?100,000 KRW (about $69.40 USD) per person, we couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the journalists would be able to attend without violating the Kim Young Ran Act [an anti-bribery law that states public officials such as journalists cannot accept gifts worth over ?50,000 KRW (about $34.70 USD).] We also question whether such a bold attempt to try to influence the media is even possible. These five organizations didn¡¯t just release their statement in the morning but also again with the exact same content at 1pm. What is the point of sending out the same statement twice in a day without any modifications? Isn¡¯t this just media manipulation? We respectfully ask that these five organizations stop trying to sway public opinion by representing the interests of a particular company, which they stated through their statements. For the sustainable growth of the K-Pop industry, it is critical to correct the mistakes made by agencies that see their artists solely as money-making tools. This is an issue that should be resolved through legal procedures.

7. Not long ago, we heard from a ComplexCon official who had been assisting with the concert preparations that HYBE¡¯s Bang Si Hyuk personally called his industry contacts to pressure them to cancel NJZ¡¯s appearance at the event. Would it be too much of a stretch to connect today¡¯s statement to that? We find it incredibly infuriating and angering. It made us realize how HYBE continues to see NJZ as money-makers rather than supporting and celebrating their successes. They are focused on blocking them and destroying them instead. Since then, we have been told that ADOR has also been working to interfere with NJZ. Bang Si Hyuk, back in April 2024, we sent you an email and requested a response. To this day, you have not replied. If you have so much to say, why not speak with us instead of other people? We also fail to understand why the Chairman of HYBE is directly getting involved in a dispute that supposedly only involves ADOR. Can we really believe you when you argue that ADOR and HYBE are separate entities?

NJZ is scheduled to perform at ComplexCon in Hong Kong. They are excited to finally showcase themselves in a new light to their fans after leaving the environment created by HYBE and ADOR. Despite the multiple attempts to stop them, their performance will proceed as planned, so we kindly ask for your continued support.

Thank you for taking the time to read this long message, and as always, we sincerely apologize for the concern caused. We wish everyone a warm day.

HYBE and Bang Si Hyuk blasted after NJZ's parents' claims

For those who may not be aware, NewJeans (NJZ) terminated their contract with ADOR in November 2024, but ADOR denied this and claimed the group was still under contract. The group and their former agency have been locking horns over the same.

After NJZ's parents' fresh statement, netizens have expressed anger towards HYBE, ADOR, and Bang Si Hyuk for interfering with the girl group's activities.

stop only addressing hybe & start shaming bang sihyuk that abuser bc hybe fandoms act like hybe is a big entity of several teams working against njz when in reality it¡®s all just the narcissistic chairman dedicating his entire sweet time to scheming against & beefing w teenagers pic.twitter.com/G7Y7eAWe90

¡ª ? (@nwjns1st) February 19, 2025

¡°free from the horrors of HYBE¡± EXACTLY pic.twitter.com/5Ql7t40Nmz

¡ª skyler (@attentionakgae) February 19, 2025

Hybe¡¯s Chairman, Bang Si-Hyuk personally called contacts in the US to try to cancel NJZ¡¯s performance at ComplexCon.

Not only did he try to cancel this event, but now NJZ¡¯s parents are questioning whether Bang is working alongside the five music organizations that released a¡­ pic.twitter.com/C8n5tzzh3b

¡ª taly (@talytokki) February 19, 2025

NewJeans is all set to make their debut performance under their new name at ComplexCon Hong Kong, a global street fashion and culture festival, from March 21 to 23 at AsiaWorld-Expo.

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