Will the group New Jeans be banned from appearing on various music shows and award ceremonies? The Korea Music Content Association (hereafter referred to as the KOMCA) has indicated a strong response to the tampering suspicions.

On the 13th, the KOMCA released a statement and stated that it would consider excluding the album and music source sales of agencies and artists suspected of tampering (preliminary contact before contract expiration) from the Circle Chart tally.

It added that it would also consider excluding and supplying data from music broadcast programs (M Countdown, Music Bank, Music Core, Inkigayo, The Show, Show! Champion, The Trot Show, ENA K-Pop Chart Show, a total of 8 music broadcast programs) and major domestic music award ceremonies (Circle Chart Music Awards, MAMA, Golden Disc) that Circle Chart provides data for.

The KOMCA stated that it is an attempt by external producers hired by agencies to persuade young and promising artists and their parents to break their existing exclusive contracts with agencies, which is called ‘tampering’. He said that he had already witnessed it in the ‘FiftyFifty’ incident.

He added that, regardless of the truth of the recent media report on the tampering suspicions surrounding former Adore CEO Min Hee-jin, which followed the FiftyFifty incident, is very concerning in that it clearly reveals how rampant tampering is in the popular music industry.

He went on to say that the association could no longer just sit by and watch as it showed the possibility that such tampering attempts could easily occur not only at small and medium-sized agencies but also at large agencies.

He pointed out that if this series of events continues to repeat itself, no agency will be able to recruit great producers to their agency or give them autonomy in the form of outsourcing so that they can have contact with artists.

The KOMCA also said that it would make the following requests to former representative Min, New Jeans, National Assembly, and government officials regarding this tampering incident.

First, the KOMCA demanded that former representative Min reveal his exact position and the facts regarding the tampering suspicions recently reported by a media outlet.

It then told New Jeans to faithfully fulfill its exclusive contract and negotiate with the agency through sincere dialogue, but if no agreement is reached, it should humbly await the judgment of the judiciary.

It also strongly stated that New Jeans is not the only company in the popular music industry, and asked that the media be cautious in reporting on it.

It continued to strongly suggest to the National Assembly and government to improve laws and systems to eradicate tampering. This is a request to prevent tampering institutionally.

He added that he once again asked the parties involved in this incident to take responsibility for the damage to the image of the industry and to faithfully participate in the investigation with a self-restrained attitude.

Jo Seong-woon, reporter for Donga.com madduxly@donga.com