NewJeans to Challenge Seoul Court Ruling on Record Label Deal Until 2029

## Court Ruling on NewJeans’ Contractual Obligations

Nearly a year after **NewJeans** announced their exit from the HYBE subsidiary label ADOR, the Seoul Central District Court has mandated that the girl group must meet their contractual commitments until 2029. The legal dispute centered around the group’s claims that the departure of ADOR’s CEO, Min Hee-jin, breached their contract, which the court found unsubstantiated.

### Court’s Findings

The **Korea Herald** reported that the court stated, “The fact that Min was removed from her position as CEO does not in itself mean that a managerial vacuum was created or that ADOR became incapable of fulfilling its contractual obligations. The members’ personal trust in Min alone does not establish that guaranteeing her CEO position was a fundamental obligation under the exclusive contract.”

In November 2024, Min resigned from her role as an internal director at ADOR, announcing plans to take legal action concerning various illegal activities involving HYBE and its affiliates. The court mentioned that Min had a chance to modify her contract and continue her collaboration with NewJeans, but she chose not to pursue that option.

### Additional Court Decisions

The court further concluded, “It cannot be viewed that Min Hee-jin’s actions were for the purpose of safeguarding the group.” Claims made by NewJeans regarding Hanni experiencing bullying from a HYBE official and their leaked trainee videos being a contract breach were also rejected.

In response to the ruling, HYBE expressed hopes that this outcome would enable the artists to reflect calmly on the situation. The company reaffirmed its responsibilities as a management agency, stating their intent to prepare for a full-length album and other future activities in collaboration with the artists.

### Future Plans for NewJeans

Amid these developments, NewJeans, which recently attempted to rebrand under the name NJZ, intends to appeal the court’s decision. “The members respect the court’s judgment. But given that the relationship of trust with Ador has been completely destroyed, it is impossible for them to return and continue normal entertainment activities under the company,” said their legal representatives from Sejong Law Firm.

They plan to file an appeal promptly, seeking a thorough reconsideration of the facts and legal grounds surrounding their contract termination to achieve a fair resolution.

In light of these ongoing legal challenges, how do you think this will affect the future of NewJeans and their fans?