Seoul Court Upholds Validity of NewJeans’ Contracts with Ador

Legal Status of NewJeans’ Contracts Confirmed

On Thursday (October 30), the Seoul Central District Court upheld the validity of the contracts between K-pop group NewJeans and their South Korean label, Ador, amid ongoing legal challenges. The judge explained that Ador’s actions, including the dismissal of former CEO Min Hee-jin, did not constitute a violation of the exclusive contract.

Min faced accusations from her previous employer, entertainment giant Hybe, who claimed she and her team attempted to gain total control of Ador, which Hybe owned 80% at that time. Min refuted these claims, emphasizing that her 18% stake would not have allowed her to seize the management.

Min was ousted from her position as CEO of Ador in August, although she continued her role as a producer for NewJeans and held a position on Ador’s board until her resignation in November. In July of this year, it was announced that she was exonerated from the breach of trust allegations, with the case not advancing to prosecution.

Background on NewJeans’ Contractual Dispute

Reports from South Korean media indicate that the members of NewJeans—Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein—did not attend the court’s ruling. Last November, they unilaterally terminated their contracts with Ador, citing issues such as workplace harassment, and have since undertaken independent activities.

In January, Ador filed for an injunction to prevent NewJeans from signing advertising contracts independently. The Seoul Central District Court granted this request on March 21, leading the group to announce a hiatus in light of the court’s decision after their performance at ComplexCon Hong Kong.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

In May, the courts accepted Ador’s request for indirect compulsory enforcement, imposing a penalty for any failure to comply with the court’s orders. As a result, each member of NewJeans now faces a hefty fine of 1 billion won ($727,180) for any unauthorized activities conducted moving forward.

As of now, NewJeans has not released any comments regarding the recent ruling.