How K-netizens reacted to the KMCA threatening NewJeans

AKP STAFF

The Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) has joined the Korea Entertainment Producers' Association in siding with HYBE Labels amid the ongoing dispute between NewJeans and their agency, ADOR.

The KMCA, established in 2008 under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, is responsible for protecting intellectual property rights in South Korea's music industry and overseeing the Circle Chart, South Korea's official public music chart.

In a statement released on December 13, KST, the KMCA condemned the practice of "tampering" — where producers allegedly lure young artists and their families to break contracts with their agencies. The association specifically referenced the "FIFTY FIFTY" case and claimed that former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin is now facing similar allegations. The KMCA expressed concern over the growing frequency of tampering cases in the K-pop industry, emphasizing that these issues affect companies of all sizes.

The statement warned that if producers are allowed to exploit their relationships with artists and their families to seek independence from agencies, it would undermine the industry's ability to discover, train, and promote new talent.

In response to the Korea Music Content Association's latest statement, Korean netizens criticized the KMCA for what they view as unfair pressure on NewJeans to remain under ADOR's control.

Korean netizens commented:

"Why are they saying 'regardless of its authenticity'? Why disregard that? The chart should be fair."

"Look at the current situation before causing a scene. Lawmakers are on overnight duty, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism is on the verge of being detained for insurrection, but you're talking about tampering system reform? LOL. As expected from a company with ties to Kim Keon Hee."

"Why is everything so rotten, seriously?"

"They’re not even calling it tampering, so who are you to declare it as such? I can't believe I'm seeing such a ridiculous official statement."

"They’re telling the members to ignore and disregard greetings, push negative media narratives to lower their achievements, steal event and advertising deals, and force them to return to a company that wrote documents containing sexual harassment? That’s just too much."