The rift between K-pop group NewJeans and their agency ADOR shows no signs of healing, as the group has firmly rejected any possibility of a settlement during their second court hearing on June 5.
Held at the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Agreement Division 41, the hearing addressed the ongoing lawsuit filed by ADOR, seeking validation of NewJeans‘ exclusive contract. Although the members were not present, their legal representatives conveyed a resolute stance.
When asked by the presiding judge whether a settlement was possible, NewJeans‘ legal team responded bluntly: “The relationship of trust has completely collapsed. It’s like crossing a river of no return. While we will consult with our clients, a settlement is highly unlikely.”
NewJeans’ legal team submitted 15 requests for clarification to ADOR. The court accepted three of them, which include:
- Whether ADOR’s board delegated contract terms, excluding duration, financial terms, and the involved parties, to former CEO Min Hee-jin;
- Whether ADOR discussed or explained the potential impact on NewJeans before or during Min Hee-jin’s dismissal;
- Whether the board took proactive steps in addressing allegations of another group copying NewJeans’ concept.
The court dismissed other requests, such as those relating to alleged media manipulation, stating they were “emotionally charged” and not objective. It also declined to compel disclosure about ADOR’s board composition, citing it as a matter of “management rights.”
NewJeans’ side criticized ADOR’s responses, saying, “Their claims of full disclosure are unsubstantiated. The submitted documents only include producer schedules and a basic list. If Hitchhiker (producer) met with them, they must explain what was discussed and agreed upon.”
In contrast, ADOR maintained a more conciliatory tone, stating that they remained open to resolving the matter “once the court reaches a conclusion.”
A separate dispute also emerged over ADOR’s request to submit records from a Source Music lawsuit against Min Hee-jin. NewJeans’ team opposed, arguing that some of the evidence was illegally obtained and deemed inadmissible by another court. ADOR countered by saying all data was collected with consent and belongs to the company.
The judge concluded, “Just because records are submitted doesn’t mean they’re automatically accepted as evidence. Once they are selected and submitted, we’ll address them then.”
The dispute dates back to November 2024, when NewJeans declared their intent to terminate their contract with ADOR and parent company HYBE, citing a complete breakdown of trust. ADOR responded by filing a lawsuit and successfully securing an injunction that prohibits NewJeans from engaging in any independent promotions or advertising deals.
To further enforce the injunction, the court approved indirect compulsory execution, imposing a fine of ₩1 billion KRW (approx. $735,000 USD) per member for any breach — a staggering ₩5 billion KRW in total.
The legal showdown is far from over. The third hearing is scheduled for July 24, 2025, where both sides are expected to continue their battle over one of K-pop’s most closely watched disputes.