NewJeans and ADOR Remain at Odds as Legal Battles Escalate Over Artist Rights and Contract Disputes

On June 30, ADOR issued a formal statement via fan community platform Weverse, announcing that they are continuously collecting evidence of serious rights violations targeting NewJeans.

These include slander based on nationality and appearance, the spread of false information, privacy invasions, and malicious slurs across both domestic and international social media platforms. The agency noted they are actively pursuing content removal and filing legal claims concurrently.

ADOR revealed that suspects accused of defamation and cyber sexual offenses are under active investigation. In a significant development, they stated that for international cases, identities have been obtained through U.S. court procedures, enabling the continuation of legal actions within Korea.

One repeat offender—who had created sexually explicit deepfake videos targeting NewJeans members—has been identified and is now facing severe legal consequences.

Additionally, ADOR confirmed that perpetrators involved in deepfake-related crimes have received harsh sentences, including imprisonment, asset forfeiture, and mandated community service. “We will continue to take every possible legal measure to protect the rights of our artists,” the agency declared.

NewJeans attempted to terminate their contracts with ADOR and HYBE in late 2023, citing lost trust. ADOR responded with legal action, and the court ruled in ADOR’s favor, blocking NewJeans from solo or independent activities.

Although the group appealed, the decision was upheld, and they won’t pursue further legal action. While ADOR continues to release content and expresses hope for reconciliation, NewJeans has firmly stated they will never return to ADOR or HYBE.

While the injunction battle has ended, the main lawsuit over the validity of NewJeans‘ exclusive contract is still underway. As legal proceedings continue, industry observers are closely watching to see whether this impasse will lead to resolution—or deeper division.