K-pop girl group NewJeans — made up of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein — just faced a major setback in their legal fight with ADOR. A Seoul court ruled in favour of the agency, saying the members’ exclusive contracts are still valid. Soon after the verdict, the girls confirmed they plan to appeal the decision, keeping their battle with ADOR far from over. While the K-pop community remains tight-lipped over the fiasco, American pop star Kesha surprised fans by showing support for NewJeans.
Court sides with ADOR, blocks NewJeans’ bid for independence
The Seoul Central District Court ruled in favour of ADOR in its ongoing contract dispute with NewJeans, who rebranded themselves as NJZ in February this year, on Thursday, rejecting the group’s request to suspend their exclusive agreement with the agency. In its verdict, the court stated that there was insufficient evidence to prove ADOR had breached any essential contractual obligations toward the members.
The judges noted that while the relationship between NewJeans and ADOR may have experienced “a breakdown in trust”, such issues alone did not justify terminating a valid contract. The ruling effectively prevents the group from pursuing independent activities outside ADOR’s management, marking a significant setback in their efforts to distance themselves from the label.
Kesha shows support for NewJeans as K-pop world stays quiet
With tensions running high after the court ruling, Kesha has stepped in to show some love to NewJeans. The pop star kept it simple but heartfelt, posting, “My heart is with you NewJeans ❤️” on X.
Fans were quick to rally behind her message, thanking her for speaking up when most of the K-pop industry had stayed silent about the group’s ongoing fight with ADOR.
NewJeans to appeal court ruling, say trust with ADOR is ‘beyond repair’
Following the court’s ruling, NewJeans officially confirmed plans to appeal the court’s decision that upheld their contracts with ADOR. Speaking through their legal team, the members said they respect the ruling but believe their trust with the agency is “completely broken,” making it impossible to continue working together.
|@NewJeans_ADOR
For the unversed, the fallout between NewJeans and ADOR first began in November 2024, after the group accused the company of mistreatment and cited the dismissal of former CEO Min Hee-jin as the final straw. During their press conference, the members said they only want to protect their art and work in an environment where they feel supported, thanking fans for standing by them through the ongoing battle.