NewJeans has officially taken legal action against ADOR, selecting the renowned law firm Shin & Kim (referred to as ‘Sejong’ in Korean) as their legal representative.
On January 23, the members of NewJeans—Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein—announced on their new Instagram account, jeanzforfree, that they have no intention of returning to ADOR or HYBE. In their statement, they revealed that ADOR had filed a lawsuit seeking confirmation of their exclusive contract’s validity and expressed their determination to fight this battle in court.
According to Dispatch, the decision to choose Shin & Kim was strategic, as the law firm is already representing Min Hee Jin, former ADOR CEO, in her legal disputes. According to NewJeans, the Shin & Kim law firm was selected because they are already familiar with the issues surrounding HYBE and ADOR.
Reports indicate that the relationship between NewJeans, Min Hee Jin, and Shin & Kim dates back months. They have reportedly worked together on major issues concerning HYBE, including requests for Min Hee Jin’s reinstatement and addressing allegations involving Hanni’s participation in a government audit hearing.
Dispatch observed meetings between NewJeans, their parents, Min Hee Jin, and the legal team as early as September 24, a day before NewJeans’ request for Min Hee Jin’s reinstatement expired. On October 8, Hanni reportedly met with Shin & Kim to discuss her solo appearance at a government audit hearing, further signaling the close cooperation between the group and Min Hee Jin.
Industry insiders speculate that NewJeans’ actions indicate their reluctance to continue activities without Min Hee Jin. An entertainment insider shared with Dispatch “Once Min Hee Jin secures new investors, NewJeans is likely to follow.” However, this close collaboration may raise concerns about tampering, as these discussions took place while NewJeans was still under contract with ADOR.
Legal experts also expressed concerns. “The timing and nature of these meetings, combined with livestreams, audit appearances, and their contract termination, raise questions about whether this process was entirely above board,” one lawyer noted.
In their statement, NewJeans accused HYBE and ADOR of employing tactics to undermine their careers. They wrote, “There were constant obstructions during our activities, and the threat to ‘suspend our careers’ was disguised as a ‘long-term hiatus’.” The group also emphasized that they had initially sought to complete their schedules amicably but could no longer remain silent in light of ADOR and HYBE’s actions.
ADOR, on the other hand, maintains that their exclusive contract with NewJeans remains valid. The company filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court seeking confirmation of the contract’s validity. ADOR also expressed disappointment over NewJeans’ attempt to pursue independent activities, such as soliciting new stage names, while their contract dispute remains unresolved.
This escalating conflict has drawn significant attention, with many eagerly awaiting the court’s decision and its implications for both NewJeans’ future and the broader K-pop industry.
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