From left are NJZ members Hyein, Haerin, Hanni, Minji and Danielle. The group adopted its new name after leaving its original name “NewJeans” behind, signaling a fresh start independent of its agency, Ador. Captured from NJZ’s Instagram
Members’ parents accuse label of ‘misleading public’ for not disclosing injunction expansion; Ador denies accusation
By Pyo Kyung-min
For those outside the K-pop fandom, the ongoing dispute between NJZ — formerly NewJeans — and its agency, Ador, under Hybe Labels, may feel like an endless saga.
However, a key turning point is approaching, as the first court hearing for Ador’s injunction request against NJZ members is set for Friday. The agency is seeking to block the group from pursuing activities independently, arguing that they remain under contract.
As the courtroom date draws near, tensions escalated once again on Thursday, with the parents of NJZ members accusing Ador of “obstructing NJZ’s occupational freedom,” prompting the agency to issue a rebuttal the same day.
Through a newly opened independent Instagram account (@njz_pr), the parents of NJZ members published a statement reiterating their stance that the group is no longer bound by its contract with Ador.
“We notified Ador of the termination of our exclusive contract on Nov. 29, 2024, due to the agency’s failure to fulfill its contractual obligations. As a result, the contract has ended,” they wrote.
In a newly revealed development, the parents alleged that Ador expanded its injunction request in February to block more activities beyond what had been previously disclosed to the public.
The Instagram feed of the account (@njz_pr) managed by NJZ members’ parents / Captured from Instagram
“On Feb. 11, Ador modified its original injunction request, asking the court not only to prohibit NJZ from signing new advertising contracts but to ban all of its musical activities — including songwriting, composing, performing and singing — as well as any other related entertainment work,” the statement read.
The claim directly contradicted Ador’s previous statements, in which the agency had said that its injunction sought only to “maintain its management rights” and block NJZ from entering independent advertising deals.
NJZ’s parents accused Ador of misleading the public by not disclosing the injunction expansion in time.
“Until just a few days ago, Ador continued making statements about NJZ’s independent activities, yet it never disclosed that its legal filing aimed to prohibit all entertainment activities entirely,” the post read.
The post also alleged that Ador’s true motive is to suppress NJZ’s career while avoiding public backlash.
“On the surface, Ador claims to be contesting NJZ’s advertising activities to prevent confusion among fans and advertisers. But in reality, they are asking the court to ban NJZ from all entertainment activities,” they wrote.
“This is a clear attempt to violate NJZ’s occupational freedom while concealing the full extent of its actions from the public to avoid criticism.”
Concluding the post, NJZ’s parents expressed hope that the court’s decision on the following day would affirm the group’s contract termination.
“We want the court to once again confirm the legitimacy of our contract termination. We hope no artist has to endure the same unfair treatment that we have,” they stated.
Ador’s current CEO, Kim Ju-young, attends a hearing at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, in this October 2024 photo. Korea Times file
Ador justifies expanded legal filing
Ador issued a rebuttal, sending a press statement just over an hour after the Instagram posts were uploaded.
The agency admitted its decision to expand the injunction request — albeit later than its previous disclosures regarding actions against NJZ — arguing that it was a necessary response to the group’s continued activities.
“As the injunction regarding management rights and advertising contracts is still pending, NewJeans has continued expanding its activities. Given these circumstances, we had no choice but to broaden our legal request,” the agency said.
Ador refuted allegations that it was attempting to block the five singers’ careers outright, claiming, “This is not about restricting their activities — it’s about ensuring that they continue their entertainment career ‘with Ador’ and ‘in compliance with their contract.’”
Following Friday’s hearing, the court is expected to decide on the injunction within a few weeks. The ruling will determine if the five NJZ members — Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein — can continue independent activities in the immediate future.
However, the dispute remains far from over.
A separate hearing scheduled for April 3 will address the lawsuit that could ultimately decide the validity of NJZ’s contract with Ador, meaning a temporary resolution to the high-stakes battle may still be weeks away.