Author: RussianRoulette

This week South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced new amendments relating to idol contracts.

Here is a rundown:

- The artist has the rights to their own name to use for publicity, though during their idol contracts it belongs to the company instead. At the end of an artist's contract with the company the transfer of rights back to the artists will now be regulated. The name transfer can also differ depending on whether they worked as a soloist or in a group.

- A company now has to take into consideration an artist's physical and mental situations when making schedules for them and cannot make schedules that go against them.

- An artist can't refuse to do a schedule without a good reason.

- I thought this was something already in place, but Idol contracts cannot exceed 7 years. After the 7 years is up an artist is free to leave at any time and any extention must be put in writing.

The two biggest changes seem to be:

- When an artist leaves the company the old company has the right to put them in a prohibition period where they can't use their old work OR produce new work that is similar to their old work for up to three years.

- I was a bit confused on this part, but it looks like how profit from old work under the old company will now be regulated? (Please correct me if i'm wrong)

- The definition age of a Juvenile/minor in the idol industry has been raised from 15 years of age to 19 years of age.

- Before minors were not allowed to work more than 35 hours a week. Minors are now allowed to work up to 40 hours a week.

- The time restraint of minors not being allowed to work outside of 10am - 6pm now still remains the same. I believe you would need parental consent for a minor to work outside of these hours for special events (like awards ceremonies or traveling for oversea schedules).