Korea to revise standard trainee contracts to strengthen rights protections

Starting in the new year, the standard contracts for trainees aspiring to become K-pop idols or actors will be revised. The changes strengthen protections for trainees’ rights and introduce new provisions aimed at preventing disputes over damages when contracts are terminated or canceled by either trainees or agencies.

On December 31st KST, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that it will issue revised versions of the Standard Contract for Trainees in the Popular Culture and Arts Industry and the Standard Supplementary Agreement for Juvenile Popular Culture Artists (Trainees), effective January 1.

Under the revised standard contract, Article 8, which addresses compensation and payment deadlines following contract termination or cancellation, has been updated to include the phrase “within ○○ days from the date the cause arises, or within a period agreed upon by both parties.” The current standard contract only stipulates payment within a “reasonable period.”

The revised contract also strengthens provisions related to mental health protection by expanding the scope of conditions for which agencies may provide counseling and treatment support. Previously, mental health conditions were limited to “severe depressive symptoms, etc.,” but the new version broadens this to include “depressive symptoms, etc.”

Additional measures to reinforce basic human rights protections have been included in the Standard Supplementary Agreement for Juvenile Popular Culture Artists (Trainees), which is attached to contracts for underage singers and actors.

The revised agreement explicitly prohibits acts that infringe upon trainees’ right to education, such as forcing school absences or pressuring them to drop out. It also expands the list of prohibited behaviors to include not only assault and threats, but also verbal abuse, coercion, sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other acts that cause physical or psychological harm.

Furthermore, agencies are prohibited from forcing trainees to participate in filming or performances when health or safety risks are present. Event organizers and agencies are also required to designate a youth protection officer and inform both the trainee and their legal guardian of this designation.

A ministry official stated, “As the standard contract is one of the most widely referenced guideline documents in the popular culture industry, it must be continuously updated to reflect changes in laws and industry conditions.” The official added, “These revisions are expected to systematically protect the basic rights of trainees and juvenile artists, while also helping reduce potential disputes arising from contractual relationships with agencies.”