NewJeans and ADOR: Legal Proceedings Unfold Amid Contract Dispute
On April 3, 2025, the Seoul Central District Court convened for the initial hearing regarding the contract dispute involving K-pop sensation NewJeans and their management company, ADOR. This legal confrontation has become a focal point in the industry as it scrutinizes the validity of the contracts held by the group amidst a challenging backdrop with ADOR and its parent company, HYBE.
The legal counsel representing NewJeans articulated a critical point during the hearing, emphasizing that their creative identity and direction were inherently tied to former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin. Her departure, they argued, would hinder their ability to perform and innovate effectively.
Counterarguments from ADOR
In contrast, ADOR challenged this assertion by referencing a recent concert in Hong Kong, which was successfully managed without Min Hee-jin’s involvement. This case was presented as evidence that NewJeans could indeed operate independently of her. ADOR’s representatives stated:
“In relation to producing, the defendant’s side is emphasizing that they cannot do entertainment activities without Min Hee-jin and that they must go together. It is true that former CEO Min Hee-jin contributed to what NewJeans is today, but it makes no sense to say, ‘NewJeans cannot exist without Min Hee-jin,'”HYBE’s subsidiary stated (via Top Star News).
Moreover, ADOR expressed further doubts about the group’s claims:
“Above all, ADOR is a subsidiary of HYBE, the number one industry in our country, so it makes no sense that the subsidiary could not find another producer to support (New Jeans).”
They continued to argue that the group’s ability to successfully execute their Hong Kong concert illustrated that they were capable of performing without relying entirely on Min Hee-jin:
“Considering that the defendants independently prepared the Hong Kong concert without Min Hee-jin’s help and successfully completed the concert, the claim that only Min Hee-jin could do it contradicts the defendant’s own words and actions.”
Notably, the members of NewJeans were absent from the hearing, with only ADOR and their legal representatives present. Contrastingly, the group had previously attended hearings regarding provisional measures intended to protect their agency status and limit independent contract engagements.
Current Status and Future Implications
Following the court’s ruling on March 21, 2025, which favored ADOR, NewJeans is currently on hiatus. The court’s decision mandates that NewJeans honour their existing contract, prohibiting them from undertaking independent activities without the agency’s consent. This legal action stemmed from ADOR’s efforts, initiated in January, to secure its management rights and halt unauthorized advertising agreements during the ongoing dispute.
Despite these legal constraints, on March 23, 2025, the group performed at ComplexCon in Hong Kong, where they unveiled their new single, “Pit Stop.”After this performance, they announced their commitment to following the court’s ruling, thus suspending all group activities.
This conflict traces back to November 2024, when NewJeans declared an end to their contract, citing breaches of trust. In response, ADOR filed a lawsuit in December, asserting that the contract remained valid. The situation escalated with a court hearing regarding ADOR’s injunction request on March 7, 2025, culminating in a decision in favor of ADOR two weeks later.
On the day of the injunction ruling, NewJeans filed an objection, with a follow-up hearing scheduled for April 9, 2025. As the primary legal proceedings regarding the contract’s legitimacy continue, the recent hearing marks an important chapter in this high-profile dispute.