The Seoul Central District Court has ruled that K-pop group NewJeans must pay 1 billion KRW (around $726,000) for every entertainment activity they undertake without approval from their agency ADOR. This decision strengthens ADOR’s legal position in the ongoing contract dispute. The group’s appeal against the injunction was rejected, marking another setback in their fight for independence.
NewJeans, now temporarily rebranded as NJZ, has been in a legal battle with ADOR since November 2024. The group claims ADOR breached their contract and failed to protect them, leading to a loss of trust. ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE, argues the contract remains valid and has taken legal steps to block the group’s independent activities.
The court stated:
“The debtor, NewJeans, shall not engage in independent entertainment activities or through third parties without the prior approval or consent of the creditor, ADOR, until the first-instance judgment in the lawsuit confirming the validity of the exclusive contract is announced.”
This penalty applies to all future activities, not past ones. NewJeans must also cover legal costs from the injunction. The ruling follows an earlier March decision where ADOR secured an injunction stopping the group from signing solo deals or releasing music without approval.
NewJeans performed as NJZ at ComplexCon Hong Kong in March, debuting a new song called Pit Stop. They announced a hiatus afterward, citing respect for the court’s decision. ADOR called the performance “regrettable,” insisting it should have been under the NewJeans name.
The group has expanded its legal team to 13 lawyers, including some who represented former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin. ADOR has 12 lawyers from a top Korean firm. The next hearing is set for June 5, where the court will further examine the contract’s validity.
ADOR continues paying NewJeans despite the dispute, revealing they’ve sent $8.2 million in settlements since October 2023. The agency claims HYBE invested $20 million in the group’s debut, emphasizing their financial commitment.
NewJeans argues ADOR changed drastically after Min Hee-jin’s exit, making their original contract void. ADOR counters that the group can still succeed without her, pointing to their Hong Kong performance as proof.
Fans have supported NewJeans, with 30,000 signing a petition against ADOR’s injunction. They fear the group’s career could suffer if forced to work under a broken relationship.
Member Danielle recently sparked speculation with a deleted Instagram post hinting at a collaboration with U.S. duo Emotional Oranges. The quick removal suggests legal caution amid the dispute.
The case could reshape K-pop’s artist-agency dynamics, affecting how contracts and trust issues are handled industry-wide.
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