NewJeans responds to ADOR’s lawsuit to legally confirm the validity of their exclusive contract:
“Recently, through media reports, we learned that ADOR has filed a lawsuit seeking confirmation of the validity of our exclusive contracts. In its statement, ADOR failed to properly… pic.twitter.com/LrWFAGrH2r
— Pop Base (@PopBase) December 6, 2024
K-pop group NewJeans have published their response to ADOR‘s recent lawsuit, reiterating their alleged right to terminate their contracts with the label. On December 4, ADOR announced that it had filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court to confirm the validity of NewJeans’ contracts in order to “ensure its continued legal enforcement”.
[Click Once More For Statement]“Hello, this is Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein.
We apologize for issuing this statement during such a chaotic time.
Recently, through media reports, we learned that ADOR has filed a lawsuit seeking confirmation of the validity of our exclusive contracts. In its statement, ADOR failed to properly address the contract violations and instead reiterated claims that our contracts could not be terminated until their investment and support were recouped.
However, we have already returned profits exceeding the initial investment to both ADOR and HYBE. Despite this, HYBE has actively tried to undermine our value through slander, reverse-viral campaigns, and other interferences, while ADOR’s new management passively allowed it to happen. This is essentially equivalent to a company generating its own malicious comments about its artists. Given this breakdown in trust, we determined that the potential for further harm was too significant to ignore.
ADOR and HYBE have repeatedly violated contract terms and failed to protect their artists, leading to a complete loss of trust. As outlined in the exclusive contract, there is no longer any reason for us to work with ADOR or HYBE.
The exclusive contract explicitly states that we can terminate it if ADOR fails to fulfill its contractual obligations. Forcing us to work for an additional five years under these circumstances is not only unreasonable but also inhumane.
We provided ADOR with a 14-day grace period to rectify the violations, but they failed to address them. Accordingly, we notified ADOR of the contract termination, which took immediate effect under the terms of the agreement.
ADOR has since filed a lawsuit seeking confirmation of the termination’s validity, which is merely a procedural step. However, we regret that they issued a misleading public statement suggesting that the contract remains valid.
Once again, we clearly state that as of November 29, 2024, we are no longer affiliated with ADOR. ADOR has no right to interfere with or involve itself in our activities.
While publicly claiming to seek dialogue and reconciliation, ADOR and HYBE have spied on us, spread slander, and disseminated false information through media outlets. Such actions have instilled fear and disgust in us. Despite their attempts to divide us, the five of us remain united, and no one can break our bond.
After announcing the termination, we have been faithfully fulfilling the remaining schedules with ADOR as promised. However, we witnessed managers and staff assisting us being mistreated—having their laptops confiscated and being subjected to sudden investigations—which brought them to tears. It is incomprehensible and deeply troubling to see such unethical and inhumane actions by this company, knowing that the harm they cause doesn’t end with us.
Although we expect challenges ahead, we aspire to a future of healthy music activities, where we can live our dreams alongside our fans. And we are determined to make that happen.
Despite the CEO change, HYBE’s ongoing issues were never addressed. ADOR failed to protect us or demand improvements from labels that defamed us and spread false information. Moreover, we find it deeply regretful that ADOR has now resorted to litigation with excuses and empty justifications.
Through this legal process, we hope to reveal the circumstances that led to our decision to terminate the contracts and ADOR’s breaches in detail.
We wish to be courageous and healthy individuals.
Thank you sincerely to everyone who has supported us so far, and we ask for your continued love and interest in all five of us moving forward.”
Sources: 1 | 2