NewJeans Loses Lawsuit Against ADOR Over Exclusive Contract Validity
Oct 30, 2025
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On the morning of the 30th, a hearing on the 41st Division of Civil Agreement (Chief Judge Chung Hoe-il) of the Seoul Central District Court held a trial to determine the validity of the exclusive contract filed by Adore against the five members of NewJeans. On this day, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff in the absence of the NewJeans members. In other words, it was judged that the exclusive contract between Adore and NewJeans was valid.
The court did not accept most of NewJeans' claims, such as the breakdown of the trust relationship due to former CEO Min's dismissal and the manager of the girl group ILLIT, belonging to Bilibrap, being bullied at work, such as being told to ignore Hani.
The justice department said "The dismissal of Min Hee-jin, former CEO of Ador, alone created a gap in the management for NewJeans, and it is difficult to say that Ador does not have a plan or ability to carry out his work. It is also not in the exclusive contract that former CEO Min must take charge of the door. Former CEO Min resigned from his position as an outside director even if he was dismissed from his position as CEO, and even though he could have participated in producer work, he resigned himself from his position as an inside director.
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In addition, it is difficult to admit that Hani heard remarks from the manager of the ILLIT that violated his personal rights, such as 'Ignore you' with the evidence submitted. Immediately after the issue was raised, Odor decided that sufficient measures were taken to confirm Hani's statement, such as asking Hive to check the relevant CCTV footage.
The court said "It cannot be considered that exclusive activities were forced or personal rights were violated just because excessive demands were not accepted after the fandom was accumulated with the full support of Hive and Adore. The trust relationship between Adore and NewJeans is so broken that it is difficult to maintain the contract that it cannot be seen as a reason for the termination of the exclusive contract.
In November last year, NewJeans declared its independent activities, saying that the exclusive contract was terminated due to the violation of the contract. However, the court accepted the request for provisional injunction against the signing of agency status and advertising contracts, as well as indirect compulsory applications. As a result, the members stopped their activities.
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Meanwhile, former CEO Min established a new entertainment agency, OK, on the 16th, and attention was focused on the future of New Jeans. In the meantime, NewJeans has publicly expressed its desire to be with former CEO Min, and former CEO Min also claimed to be 'NewJeans Mom'. However, in the end, the first trial court ruled in favor of Odor, and NewJeans' dream of reuniting his mother was thwarted.
silk781220@sportschosun.com
