Court Rules in Favor of ADOR
The legal battle between NewJeans (NJZ) and ADOR has taken a decisive turn, with the Seoul Central District Court ruling in favor of ADOR on March 21. The decision means that the members cannot continue their independent activities under the name NJZ and must adhere to their original contract obligations.
Why the Court Rejected NewJeans’ Claims
The members of NewJeans argued that their contract with ADOR should be terminated due to several issues, including:
- The removal of former CEO Min Hee-jin, which they claimed disrupted their creative process.
- Restrictions on NewJeans’ activities imposed by HYBE’s management.
- Leaked trainee photos and videos that they believed compromised their privacy.
- Negative PR statements from HYBE representatives that allegedly downplayed NewJeans’ success.
However, the court dismissed these claims, stating that there was insufficient evidence to prove that ADOR had violated critical contractual obligations. It also ruled that the dismissal of Min Hee-jin was a business decision and did not directly impact the group’s ability to perform under their contract.
Impact on NewJeans’ Future Activities
The ruling puts significant restrictions on NewJeans’ independent activities. The members had planned to perform under the name NJZ and even scheduled a performance at ComplexCon in Hong Kong on March 23. However, with the court’s decision, their ability to continue under a separate brand is now uncertain.
Moreover, the court emphasized that allowing the members to act independently could cause severe damage to ADOR’s reputation and NewJeans’ brand value. This ruling reinforces the contractual authority of entertainment agencies in K-pop and raises questions about artists’ autonomy within the industry.
While NewJeans’ future remains unclear, this legal decision marks a critical moment in the ongoing dispute between artists and management in K-pop. Will the members appeal, or will they negotiate new terms with ADOR? The industry’s eyes are now on their next move.
