The exclusive contract dispute between 4th-generation K-pop representative idol group NewJeans and their agency ADOR is expanding to the courts.
ADOR officially announced on the 5th that it filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court to confirm the validity of its exclusive contract with NewJeans.
ADOR explained, “We did not want to resolve issues with our artists through legal procedures, but we made this decision to clarify that an exclusive contract cannot be easily terminated based on one-sided claims.”
They also emphasized the characteristics of the K-pop industry, stating, “The idol industry involves significant long-term and large-scale investments from the company. If an exclusive contract is invalidated, such investments cannot be protected and may negatively affect the entire industry.”
ADOR reiterated its commitment to continue working with NewJeans, stating, “While we wait for the judiciary’s decision, we will engage in honest conversations with the artists and work to resolve unnecessary misunderstandings.”
The conflict between NewJeans and ADOR seems to have originated from disputes between the agency’s parent company, HYBE, and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin. NewJeans claimed that ADOR failed to protect them and lacked sufficient capabilities, demanding the return of Min as CEO.
On the 28th of last month, NewJeans held an emergency press conference and announced that their exclusive contract would be terminated at midnight on November 29, officially confirming their split from ADOR.
What stands out is that, despite declaring the contract termination, NewJeans stated that they would not take legal action such as filing for a provisional injunction to suspend the contract’s validity. Typically, the party seeking to terminate a contract would initiate legal proceedings first, but NewJeans’ declaration is seen as an unprecedented move in the industry.