According to SPOTV News on June 17, the Seoul High Court’s 25-2 Civil Division dismissed NewJeans’ appeal for an injunction that afternoon.
Previously, the Seoul Central District Court had fully granted ADOR’s injunction request against the five members of NewJeans, which sought to preserve ADOR’s status as their agency and prohibit the members from signing advertising contracts independently. The members, dissatisfied with the ruling, filed an objection, which was rejected, leading them to immediately appeal.
However, the appellate court also sided with ADOR. This means NewJeans is legally bound to ADOR and cannot perform or release music independently.
Interestingly, on the same day, ADOR released a new “Jeans’ Clip” video on NewJeans’ official YouTube channel. The video featured behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of NewJeans’ “Super Shy,” “ETA,” and “OMG” music videos. This is part of ADOR’s continued uploads, even after NewJeans’ declaration to terminate their exclusive contract.
However, no recent footage of the members has been included, as the group is currently not participating in new activities.
Previously, NewJeans’ legal battle with ADOR has escalated, with courts consistently ruling in favor of the agency. After the group attempted to terminate their contracts last year, ADOR filed for an injunction to retain management rights, which was upheld in both lower and high courts. NewJeans also faces penalties of ₩1 billion KRW per member for allegedly continuing unauthorized activities under the name NJZ.
At the core of the dispute is a civil lawsuit over their exclusive contracts. While ADOR is open to negotiations, NewJeans refuses, citing broken trust—not financial issues—as grounds for contract termination. With repeated legal defeats and a ban on independent promotions, the group’s fate now depends entirely on the outcome of the main trial.
NewJeans has clearly stated their intention not to return to ADOR. During the second hearing of a lawsuit filed by ADOR to confirm the validity of their exclusive contract, the group stated, “The trust relationship has already been completely broken. We’ve crossed a river we cannot return from,” adding, “It’s not easy.”
Unlike the NewJeans lawsuit, which centers on artistic control and trust, Min’s legal dispute with HYBE is purely financial.
Min Hee-jin, former ADOR CEO and central figure in the NewJeans controversy, is locked in a separate legal battle with HYBE over a ₩26 billion KRW (~$19 million USD) put option. HYBE claims she breached their shareholders’ agreement, voiding her rights, while Min argues her dismissal was unjustified. As NewJeans faces mounting legal setbacks, Min continues her fight for compensation, highlighting a parallel struggle between the agency’s former leader and its artists.
With both the lower and appellate courts ruling in favor of ADOR, the group remains contractually bound, limiting their ability to operate freely in the entertainment industry. While NewJeans has made it clear that reconciliation with their agency is no longer an option, the legal outcome forces them into a prolonged conflict with uncertain consequences.
As the exclusive contract lawsuit continues, all eyes remain on how the standoff between the rising stars and their agency will unfold.