NewJeans vs. ADOR Contract Lawsuit Deemed “Special Case” by Court Amid Deep Trust Dispute
As the exclusive contract dispute between girl group NewJeans and their agency ADOR enters full-fledged legal proceedings, the court has deemed the case “special” and requiring careful review.
The first hearing for ADOR’s lawsuit to confirm the validity of NewJeans’ exclusive contracts was held on the morning of June 3 at the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 41, presided over by Judge Jung Hoe-il. The members of NewJeans did not attend; only legal representatives from both sides were present to state their positions.
The court raised questions about NewJeans’ claim of a “complete breakdown of trust,” noting that this case differs from typical exclusive contract disputes. The judge stated, “Usually a trust breakdown is clearly visible at once, but this case is special. In the past, most cases involved idols requesting contract termination before debut or without receiving proper settlement payments, but NewJeans are already top-tier idols.”
“If the claim is that trust broke down because former CEO Min Hee-jin is no longer there, this differs from conventional trust breakdown concepts. This requires careful consideration.”
NewJeans Argues ADOR Is “No Longer the Same Company”
NewJeans’ legal team emphasized that after Min Hee-jin’s removal, ADOR has become a completely different company.
They argued, “A corporation can take on entirely different characteristics when management changes. ADOR without Min Hee-jin is not the company NewJeans trusted, so we request the court to judge whether continuing with them is appropriate.”
They further stressed, “The key reasons for the trust breakdown aren’t just Min’s absence, but also the lack of alternatives or communication to replace her.” In response, ADOR countered that, “Min Hee-jin wasn’t ousted but left voluntarily.”
They claimed, “Even after changing CEOs, we offered producing roles to Min, but she said she couldn’t participate without remaining as CEO,” maintaining that, “The contract with NewJeans remains valid and ADOR has sufficient producing capabilities as an agency.”
Mediation Unlikely as Legal Battle Continues
The court explored mediation possibilities but found stark differences in positions. While ADOR expressed hopes for settlement, NewJeans clearly drew a line, stating, “Currently, the members are not in a position to consider agreement.”
This main lawsuit is connected to prior injunction filings to preserve ADOR’s agency status and block NewJeans from entering into independent advertising contracts. In February, the court issued an injunction prohibiting NewJeans’ independent activities, which the group appealed on March 21. The appeal hearing is scheduled for April 9.
Meanwhile, the second hearing for the NewJeans, ADOR exclusive contract validity lawsuit is scheduled for June 5.