NewJeans Faces Pivotal Legal Ruling in Contract Battle Against ADOR
Oct 30, 2025
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At 9:50 a.m. on the 30th, the 41st Division of Civil Agreement (Chief Judge Chung Hoe-il) of the Seoul Central District Court will hold a trial date for confirming the validity of the exclusive contract filed by Adore against the five members of NewJeans.
In November last year, Odor declared its own activities, saying that the exclusive contract was terminated due to the breach of the contract. In response, Adore filed an injunction against the members to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract, preserve the status of the agency, and prohibit the conclusion of advertising contracts.
The court cited all of Odor's applications for provisional injunction. The members spoke informally and filed objections and appeals, but all were rejected. The court also accepted Ador's request for indirect coercion. If NewJeans works independently without consultation with Adore, each member will have to pay a penalty of 1 billion won per session. Eventually, NewJeans' independent activities were blocked, and the members declared the suspension.
And regarding the main lawsuit, the court tried to mediate twice in August and September, but the two sides finally failed to reach an agreement.
Ador has faithfully fulfilled the terms of the contract to be kept as an agency, including the obligation to settle accounts, and hopes to return to the company, saying it plans to fully support its activities before and in the future.
However, NewJeans countered that the trust relationship was broken due to the unfair ouster of Min Hee-jin, former CEO of Ador, and that he could no longer be with Ador. In the process, NewJeans described themselves as victims of school violence and domestic violence, and caused controversy by saying that his father, who was wielding domestic violence, drove out his mother.
Amid this situation, attention was focused on the future of NewJeans as it was recently known that former CEO Min Hee-jin established a new agency, OK. The result of the sentence is drawing unprecedented attention as it will determine whether NewJeans will be held in former representative Min's arms, return to Odor, or find another third route.
silk781220@sportschosun.com
