The K-pop world is buzzing with the ongoing legal clash between NewJeans and their agency ADOR. A recent court ruling has stopped the group from working independently, raising questions about their future and their ties with former CEO Min Hee Jin. Legal experts suggest this could be a moment for NewJeans to rethink their path. Here’s a detailed look at what’s happening.
What Sparked the Dispute?
NewJeans, made up of members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, announced in November 2024 that they were ending their contract with ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE. They claimed the agency mistreated them and broke their trust, especially after Min Hee Jin left her role as CEO. The group pointed to issues like a manager being told to “ignore” Hanni and internal plans to sideline them.
“We heard a manager being told to ‘ignore’ Hanni, and we saw documents suggesting ADOR wanted to exclude us from future plans,” NewJeans said in a press conference on November 28, 2024.
ADOR fought back, saying the contract, signed in April 2022, is valid until July 31, 2029. They argued that NewJeans had no legal grounds to walk away and that the agency had invested heavily in them, including $20 million for their debut. The conflict escalated when ADOR filed a lawsuit in December 2024 to confirm the contract’s validity and sought an injunction to stop NewJeans from signing independent deals.
The Court’s Ruling and Its Impact
On March 21, 2025, the Seoul Central District Court sided with ADOR, granting an injunction that blocks NewJeans from any entertainment activities—like releasing music or performing—without ADOR’s approval until the contract dispute is resolved. This ruling came just before the group’s performance at ComplexCon Hong Kong on March 23, 2025, where they introduced a new song called Pit Stop under the name NJZ.
“It’s really hard for us to say this, but this might be our last performance for a little while. Out of respect for the court’s decision, we’ve decided to pause all our activities for now,” NewJeans told fans at ComplexCon.
The court’s decision stunned many, as injunctions that halt artists’ work are rare. Legal experts noted the ruling suggests ADOR made a strong case.
“Most injunction requests aren’t granted, especially since approving one effectively halts an artist’s activities,” said Kang Ho Deok and Park Gun Ho from Kang & Park Law Office.
The group appealed the ruling, but a hearing on April 9, 2025, didn’t change the outcome. The main lawsuit, which will decide if NewJeans can legally end their contract, had its first hearing on April 3, 2025, with the next one set for June 5, 2025.
Min Hee Jin’s Role in the Conflict
Min Hee Jin, who shaped NewJeans’ unique sound and style, is at the heart of this drama. She resigned as ADOR’s CEO in November 2024 after a rocky feud with HYBE. NewJeans insisted they couldn’t work without her, saying her removal changed ADOR into a “different company” with values they didn’t trust.
“When Min Hee Jin was ousted, and new management came under HYBE, the new management had completely different values from the past and became a different corporation,” NewJeans’ legal team argued in court.
ADOR countered that Min Hee Jin chose to leave and that NewJeans performed well without her, pointing to their ComplexCon show. They also accused her of “tampering” by helping the group plan their contract exit. Evidence showed that Min Hee Jin’s law firm, Sejong, drafted the termination notice sent on November 29, 2024.
“The termination notice was authored by Sejong, as indicated in the metadata of the PDF file,” ADOR’s legal team revealed in court on March 11, 2025.
Legal analysts have questioned NewJeans’ reliance on Min Hee Jin. Some argue that hiring the same law firm, Shin & Kim LLC, as Min Hee Jin might limit their options.
“The members hiring the same law firm as Min Hee Jin was a mistake. Legal professionals should offer diverse perspectives,” said Kang Ho Deok and Park Gun Ho.
What Lawyers Say About the Case
Experts from top Korean law firms have weighed in, suggesting NewJeans faces an uphill battle. They argue that proving ADOR breached the contract is tough, especially since the group has been paid well—$8.2 million since October 2023—and received top-tier support.
“The six demands NewJeans made, including the reinstatement of Min Hee Jin, may not constitute sufficient grounds for termination unless evidence clearly establishes ADOR’s responsibility,” said Ko Sang Rok from PIL Law Firm.
Others noted that the court didn’t see Min Hee Jin’s absence as a strong enough reason to end the contract.
“The court saw no serious wrongdoing on ADOR’s part that would justify terminating the contract,” Kang & Park Law Office explained.
Some lawyers believe NewJeans should distance themselves from Min Hee Jin to focus on their own interests.
“Now is the time for Min Hee Jin and the NewJeans members to go their separate ways. The court is giving the members an opportunity to realize their interests no longer align with Min Hee Jin’s,” said Kang Ho Deok and Park Gun Ho.
The Bigger Picture for K-Pop
This case could shake up how K-pop contracts work. Industry groups worry that if NewJeans succeeds, it might encourage other artists to challenge their agencies, risking financial chaos.
“If tampering attempts succeed, Korea’s entertainment management industry will collapse,” five K-pop trade groups warned in a statement.
On the flip side, NewJeans’ bold move has sparked talk about artists’ rights. Fans, known as Bunnies, have rallied behind them, with some launching a contest for a temporary group name on Instagram (@jeanzforfree).
“Bunnies!! We’re going to have a two-day contest for a new name to use for activities for a period of time,” NewJeans posted on Instagram.
What’s Next for NewJeans?
The group remains tied to ADOR for now, unable to release new music or perform independently. They’ve vowed to fight on, believing the main lawsuit will let them present stronger evidence.
“Unlike the injunction procedure, the main lawsuit can more freely utilize the civil procedure law system to secure necessary evidence, so we expect that this will greatly strengthen the evidence supporting the members’ claims,” NewJeans said on Instagram.
Meanwhile, ADOR insists they’re committed to supporting the group.
“With our status as NewJeans’ exclusive agency now legally affirmed, we are fully committed to supporting the artists going forward,” ADOR stated after the injunction win.
The case has divided fans. Some on X believe NewJeans is standing up against unfair treatment, while others think they’re risking their careers over loyalty to Min Hee Jin.
“NewJeans risked their careers providing ADOR/HYBE two grace periods for corrective action to bring ADOR back to normal with Min Hee Jin as CEO,” a fan posted on X.
Looking Ahead
The June 5, 2025, hearing will be crucial. If NewJeans can’t prove ADOR broke the contract, they could face penalties estimated at 620 billion won ($440 million). However, courts might lower such fees if they seem too high.
“Courts often reduce penalties deemed excessive,” said Roh, a legal expert.
For now, NewJeans is on hiatus, leaving fans waiting for answers. This battle could redefine trust, contracts, and power in K-pop.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
