KG, a 17-year-old member of VCHA, a U.S.-based girl group formed by K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment and Republic Records, announced her departure from the group in an Instagram Story posted Dec. 7, revealing that she had taken legal action against JYP USA, the Korean company’s stateside subsidiary. The lawsuit, filed on KG's behalf by her mother, Tracey Madder, in Los Angeles Superior Court on Dec. 6, alleges that she was subjected to "child labor exploitation, child neglect and abuse, [and] unfair business practices" during her time as a trainee and member of VCHA.
This unexpected turn of events comes after months of silence from VCHA, who pulled out of an anticipated Lollapalooza performance in July, about a month after the group essentially went inactive on social media, sparking widespread speculation among fans. Recently, excitement had been reignited when JYP founder J.Y. Park said VCHA was planning to resume activities in 2025, but this legal filing has raised questions and concerns from fans about the possible conditions behind the scenes and the treatment of young artists in the industry more broadly.
The suit alleges that JYP USA subjected KG — whose legal name is Kiera Grace Madder and is identified in court documents reviewed by Teen Vogue as K.M. — to "grueling" work conditions, financial exploitation, and insufficient care for her mental health, which, her lawyer Jeremiah D. Graham said in a statement, violated California’s “labor, employment, and contract protections for minors.” Graham told Teen Vogue in an email that she has no complaints against Republic Records and that while the company partnered with JYP USA to launch VCHA, Republic was more involved with the project at its onset.
"I filed a lawsuit because I have decided to terminate my contract with JYP Entertainment and exit VCHA after experiencing incidents of abuse and mistreatment by certain staff members," KG shared via her Instagram Story. “I feel it was not a good environment for my mental health and I apologize if my leave disappoints any of you.”
"I made this decision back in May and am still waiting for release from my contract," she continued in her IG Story. "I am worried for the girls who remain in VCHA, my friends, who I truly love and care for. I also realized if I remain at JYP Entertainment, I am not able to become the artist l aspire to be, as I really enjoy songwriting and production. I have accumulated a massive amount of company debt, while being paid very little for the intense work and extreme limitations on our personal lives. Although such incidents occurred, there were also beautiful moments."
She goes on to thank "J.Y. Park, company executives, and staff for believing in me and the exceptional training. [I] feel this is an issue that lies deep embedded in the K-Pop industry… I hope that my leave can encourage the K-Pop system to make changes for the better, in hopes of protecting the idols and trainees who remain in these companies’ hands."
Allegations of exploitation and abuse
In the lawsuit, KG accuses JYP USA of systematic neglect, including failing to provide adequate breaks and necessary mental health support. KG claims she was "required [to] perform strenuous physical activities without adequate rest, nutrition, or medical attention, leading to physical injuries including a torn tendon in her shoulder and a leg injury." She also alleges that members were forced to perform and rehearse through severe injuries and illnesses; for example, she says she was told to "repeat a single dance move hundreds of times without rest and forcing her to squat between repetitions," allegedly leading to her shoulder injury, and when she asked for water, she claims she was told "she could only drink water when she perfected the move."
KG also alleges she was sometimes paid less than her agreed-upon base salary of $500 weekly, and was not compensated for overtime despite regularly working over 12 hours a day. This would equate to less than California’s current $16 minimum wage, which also requires time-and-a-half for overtime hours, meaning any hours worked beyond eight per day. She says she was also burdened with $500,000 in debt for group living expenses, including a $2.5 million house in Los Angeles that she says she felt coerced into moving into with the other members of VCHA, despite her contract labeling the arrangement as “optional.”
The lawsuit goes on to claim that KG and her groupmates were under "constant surveillance," with "hidden cameras, including one in the group’s dining area, that on information and belief…recorded the girls' private conversations and meals without their consent or knowledge." Also, "a surveillance sticker found on the ceiling of the pantry further revealed that their eating habits were being monitored around the clock," and KG allegedly discovered the cameras "months after they had been installed, deepening her feelings of being trapped, controlled, and powerless," according to the complaint.
She also allegedly faced "verbal and emotional abuse," and all members were purportedly pressured to conform to extreme body standards, the lawsuit claims. KG alleges that JYP USA staff ignored another member’s eating disorder, which she says "culminated in [that member's] suicide attempt in February 2024." Additionally, the suicide attempt was reportedly concealed, per KG; she says the group was instructed to lie to a child welfare worker and other staff.
JYP USA’s response and the bigger picture for K-pop
JYP USA released a statement on Dec. 9 on its fan communications platform calling KG’s claims "false" and "exaggerated." The agency said that it had been discussing a resolution with the singer’s legal representation since May, but had not received responses recently prior to her filing suit and releasing her public statement. "We deeply regret KG’s decision to file a lawsuit and make unilateral public statements containing false and exaggerated claims," it reads. "This action has caused significant harm to the other members of VCHA and JYP USA who have been working diligently on their upcoming album and projects for early 2025."
The agency added that it will "take all necessary measures" to ensure that the group and company do not "suffer further harm as a result of this matter."
In an Instagram Story posted on Dec. 9, after her statement and JYP USA’s response, KG wrote, "I am very disappointed in the company's lack of accountability. My legal team and I are fully prepared with photographic and physical evidence to prove my allegations are factual, not 'exaggerated' nor 'false.'" She added, "I hope by coming forward, other trainees, idols, and group members can be encouraged to use their voice, in order to make positive changes in the K-pop industry."
Teen Vogue reached out to Graham, KG's legal representative, for comment on JYP USA's statement. He responded on Dec. 11, claiming he met with JYP's legal representation and said "all KG wanted was a release from the contract," but the request was denied. "They said that she could not publish any songs on her own, that she could not seek career opportunities, and if someone happened to come to her she needed to submit that to them, and then they would decide whether she could take the opportunity. That, coupled with the threat of liquidated damages and penalties if she spoke about her experiences is why she felt compelled to initiate a lawsuit, because otherwise she would’ve been silenced and unable to pursue her career for years. With a lawsuit, she is now able to stand up for the treatment of other artists and advocate for herself and others."
This lawsuit comes at an inflection point for the K-pop industry, raising broader concerns about the treatment of its young artists. On Nov. 28, the five members of NewJeans held an emergency press conference to announce they would terminate their exclusive contracts with ADOR, a subsidiary of Korean entertainment company HYBE, following a months-long contract dispute with the label.
"We have faced mistreatment not just towards us but also including our staff, countless preventions and contradictions, deliberate miscommunications, and manipulation regarding multiple areas," Hanni shared in English during the press conference. "[It is] a company that no longer has any sincerity in the art of music that is created, is rather fixated on appearing like a well-working company despite only having thoughts about making money, and don’t have any conscience about the negative effect they create through their non-authentic means. This is not the type of work ethic we respect nor want to be a part of, and to continue working under a company with no intention of protecting NewJeans would only do us harm."
In previous statements, like those made by Hanni during an Oct. 15 workplace harassment audit in South Korea’s National Assembly, they've cited alleged mistreatment and manipulation by the label. "I came forward because I don't want anyone else in the industry — whether they are seniors, juniors, peers, or trainees — to go through the same thing," Hanni reportedly said during her testimony, according to a translation from the Korea Times.
However, ADOR insists it has not violated NewJeans’ contracts and that the group’s claims do not constitute grounds for termination. On Dec. 3, ADOR filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court to legally validate the terms of NewJeans’ exclusive artist contracts.
“We did not wish for the issue with our artist to be resolved through legal judgment, but this inevitable decision was made to clarify to the artist and various stakeholders that the exclusive contracts between the agency and the artist cannot be lightly terminated based on one-sided claims,” ADOR wrote in a statement posted on Dec. 5 via Newsen. “Above all, we seek clear judgment from the court to uphold the foundation of the K-pop industry, which has grown based on a healthy trust relationship between artists and agencies, and further, the foundation of the Korean popular culture industry.”
These alleged incidents and the artists' willingness to speak publicly suggest a growing awareness of the potential larger systemic issues that young idols seem to be facing. While these allegations highlight deeply personal experiences of purported mistreatment and abuse, they also serve as a broader critique of the demanding and seemingly exploitative systems that underpin K-pop training and management.
As K-pop expands in other global markets, companies will increasingly need to navigate cultural and legal shifts, particularly when managing artists and minors under labor protections that may be stricter than South Korea's current regulations.
Crafting an American K-pop group
VCHA was formed in 2023 through the competition series A2K (America 2 Korea), which aired on JYP Entertainment's YouTube channel. After a series of auditions across the U.S., a group of contestants, ranging in ages from 13 to 18, competed in rigorous challenges, including singing, dancing, and teamwork exercises at a training bootcamp in Los Angeles, all aimed at identifying the most promising stars to debut in a girl group under JYP Entertainment’s guidance. The finalists flew to South Korea for further training at the company's Seoul headquarters.
The joint venture from JYP Entertainment and Republic Records claimed to be the first of its kind: an American group trained under K-pop's meticulous system of discovering and developing talent. The final lineup was revealed on Sept. 21, 2023: Lexi, Camila, Savanna, Kendall, KG, and Kaylee. The group dropped their first single, "Y.O.Universe," in conjunction with the finale before making their official debut in January 2024 with "Girls of the Year" and B-side "XO Call Me."
VCHA also opened for TWICE for stops on the powerhouse group's Ready to Be World Tour in São Paulo, Mexico City, and Las Vegas.
In March, it was announced that VCHA’s youngest member, Kaylee, would be taking a hiatus for an undisclosed health condition until further notice. There has been no update on her current status within the group.
Teen Vogue has reached out to JYP USA, JYP Entertainment in Korea, and Republic Records for comment.
