SEOUL — The chart-topping K-pop band NewJeans may be prevented from signing advertising deals and other contracts after their record label filed an injunction against them.
The five-piece are currently engaged in a fierce dispute with Ador, the entertainment company that formed their band in 2022.
Last November, the group claimed their contracts were invalid, due to what they alleged was a pattern of bullying, harassment and subterfuge at the company. Ador, which denied the allegations, sued to have their contracts upheld.
The company is now accusing NewJeans of trying to sign independent deals without its approval, and has taken further legal action in Seoul, South Korea.
“This decision was made to prevent confusion and potential harm to third parties, including advertisers,” Ador explained in a statement.
The agency also warned that there could be broader repercussions for South Korea’s lucrative music industry if NewJeans’ actions went unchecked.
“Allowing unilateral terminations of exclusive contracts and independent activities without legal procedures could undermine investment in the entertainment industry and destabilise the K-pop sector,” Ador said in its injunction application, according to the Yonhap News Agency.
NewJeans were considered one of the brightest new bands in K-Pop, thanks to a playful blend of 1990s R&B and sugar-coated pop melodies.
In 2023, they were the eighth biggest-selling act in the world. Last year, they picked up a nomination for best group at the MTV Awards.
But their relationship with Ador soured after its parent company Hybe allegedly forced out their mentor, Min Hee-Jin.
The band issued an ultimatum demanding that Min should be restored. When Hybe refused, the group went public with a number of complaints against the label, including the claim that Hybe had deliberately undermined their careers.
In a press conference last November, the five members — Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein — announced their departure from the company, saying Hybe and Ador had lost the right to represent them as artists.
They subsequently filed court papers seeking a legal separation from the agency, but the case has yet to be heard.
Ador argues that the band’s contract, which runs until 2027, should be upheld.
The label has already finalised a schedule for the quintet’s next 12 months, which includes releasing a new album and hosting fan meetings, amongst other activities.
However, the band members have continued to assert their independence, creating a new Instagram account under the name “jeanzforfree”, where they have been hosting regular live-streams with fans.
The band say they will fight to keep their name, and their career, and will remain “NewJeans at heart” even if they lose that fight.
It is not the first time that a K-pop band has tried to terminate a contract.
The popular groups TVXQ and Fifty Fifty have both taken their labels to court — but the cases have had mixed results, and both bands have seen their line-ups change as a result.
The biggest problem facing NewJeans is that their case against Ador could take two or three years to settle if it goes to trial. During that time, they’re unlikely to be able to record or promote new music, unless the projects are created in conjunction with the label.
If the court eventually finds Hybe was at fault, the members will be able to walk away – and may even be able to hold on to the band’s name.
But if the decision goes against the band, they may face a financial penalty.
In October, the K-pop news site Koreaboo estimated that the members would have to pay about 300bn South Korean Won (about £170m) to walk away from their contract early. — BBC