In a major setback for Korea’s burgeoning stars, a court in South Korea has ruled against NewJeans, disregarding their effort to be freed from their label, Ador. The recent ruling thus puts an inability for the group, who had recently changed its name to NJZ, to engage in independent activities—define: to make music, sign deals, or perform—without Ador’s approval.
The Dispute That Shook K-Pop
The battle between NewJeans and Ador began in August 2024, when Hybe, Ador’s parent company, had allegedly forced out the group’s mentor, Min Hee-Jin. The five-member band – Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein – demanded her reinstatement. Hybe stubbornly refused, and they went about publicly blaming the label for mistreatment, claiming it had willfully sabotaged their careers.
The conflict further intensified after member Hanni spoke out accusing Ador of workplace harassment. The group made a dramatic announcement in November that they were parting ways with the label, saying Ador had failed them as artists.
Ador counter-sued for enforcement of contracts. In January 2025, an injunction was filed by the label to prevent NewJeans from signing independent deals.
https://x.com/TheFlopKpop/status/1902968641802604942
Court Decisions and Its Impact
On Friday, the court in Seoul sided with Ador and stated that NewJeans had not provided sufficient evidence of such serious breaches that could substantiate their claims. This contract doesn’t really matter because they executed most of their obligations, such as paying their artists.”
“If NewJeans unilaterally terminates the contract, Ador would suffer significant damage. Their attempt to operate under a new name could harm not just the NewJeans brand but also Ador’s reputation,” the court said.
Now this decision throws the artists off in terms of their immediate plans. Their highly anticipated new song could now face delays as it is set to be released on Sunday. Far more important would be that their attempts to re-debut under the name of NJZ might be too legally as well as financially impossible.
