On March 26, 2025, BBC Korea aired a revealing interview featuring NewJeans and their management agency, ADOR. This interview focused on a heated legal dispute and the troubling issue of leaked text messages concerning the K-pop girl group. The backdrop of this discussion was a recent court ruling that denied NewJeans’ petition to part ways with ADOR, thereby affirming the agency’s control over the group.
A central point of contention revolved around the authenticity of KakaoTalk messages that were used as evidence in court. These messages, introduced by ADOR’s legal team, were alleged to have been crafted by Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of ADOR, to plot a separation of NewJeans from the agency, alongside plans to create a competing entity.
During the court hearing on March 7, 2025, ADOR’s representatives cited these conversations to bolster their case. However, the BBC interview sought clarity on whether the messages had been verified with Hanni, one of NewJeans’ members. ADOR responded with the following:
“The captured text messages were not obtained separately by Adore, but were submitted as evidence to the injunction court by the members of New Jeans, so we did not doubt their reliability,”the agency stated (translated).
The Legal Struggle of NewJeans
The ongoing legal dispute between ADOR and NewJeans (also known as NJZ) has escalated, with the court investigating allegations of contractual manipulation attributed to the former CEO, Min Hee-jin. The central issue revolves around the KakaoTalk messages cited during the injunction trial. ADOR argued that these messages’ file properties suggested they were prepared by Sejong Law Firm, which had previously represented Min, thus casting doubt on their legitimacy.
Contrastingly, NewJeans’ legal team contended that the real conflict originated from ADOR’s mismanagement and the broader influences of its parent company, HYBE. They asserted that Min Hee-jin played an essential role in establishing and nurturing NewJeans but was removed without proper discussion with the group. Furthermore, they accused ADOR of neglecting the group’s needs while secretly planning to replace them with another act.
In their detailed interview with BBC Korea, members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein opened up about the turmoil that has temporarily stalled their careers. The court’s injunction has prevented them from pursuing independent activities under their new name, NJZ.
Despite preparations to promote their latest track, “Pit Stop,”which reflects their past challenges, the members announced a pause in their activities following the court’s ruling. They conveyed that their decision to speak out was driven by the need to secure their futures.
“When I heard the news of the court’s citation, I was preparing for rehearsal and for a moment I was really dazed. At first, I was very shocked, but now I’m accepting it. In fact, from the moment I made the decision, I knew that this path would not be easy and that there would be many unexpected difficulties along the way,” shared Minji.
Danielle echoed these feelings, voicing her disillusionment with the agency and sharing her sense of betrayal due to ADOR’s lack of support during the ongoing conflict.
“[We] didn’t start this fight to get sympathy, we just wanted to do what we love, [but] lies and misunderstandings are constantly getting in the way,”she explained.
Additionally, Hanni criticized ADOR for selectively releasing information that misrepresented the facts. This conflict has roots dating back to November 2024, when NewJeans officially announced their intention to terminate their exclusive contracts due to allegations of workplace bullying and a breakdown of trust. ADOR, in turn, refuted these claims and sought legal recourse to uphold the validity of the contracts.
Despite ADOR’s assurances of support for NewJeans’ upcoming activities following the court ruling, the members articulated their apprehensions about re-engaging with the agency.
“I was really shocked. I thought this was a repeat of the behavior that he would come to us again without consulting us, even though we had told him how hard it was and that we could not work together. I went through a lot of mental pain, so it’s cruel to have to go back to that company and deal with it all again,” Minji shared.
In light of allegations suggesting that they were swayed by external influences, the members affirmed that their decision to pursue independence was made after significant internal discussion. Hanni countered assumptions about their youth and capability to make serious decisions:
“I think people easily think, ‘They’re still young, they can’t make decisions on their own.’ But just because we’re young doesn’t mean we take things any less seriously or worry any less. It was a decision that was possible because all five of us had the same opinion after sufficient discussion with the members.”
The constant media scrutiny, alongside the emotional strain from the legal battle, has significantly impacted the members. Hyein likened their experiences to living in a documentary, with daily uncertainties about what the future may hold. Danielle added that stifling her emotions to focus on performance only compounded the difficulties, stating that the experience taught her the importance of self-reflection and deepening her connection with both herself and her fans.
Acknowledging their collective hardships, Hanni conveyed her fears of the conflict jeopardizing their careers, yet she found comfort in the unity and support of her members and family. Ultimately, while discussing their journey, the members emphasized that their situation transcends mere contracts; it represents their experiences and the deep bond they share.