NewJeans Suffer Complete Defeat in Contract Dispute With ADOR

Oct 31, 2025

Group NewJeans were completely defeated in the exclusive contract war with Ador.

On the 30th, the Seoul Central District Court's Civil Agreement Department 41 (Chief Judge Chung Hoe-il) ruled in favor of the plaintiff in the exclusive contract validation lawsuit filed by Adore against five members: NewJeans Kim Min-ji, Hani Farm, Marsh Daniel, Kang Hae-rin and Lee Hye-in. As a result, the exclusive contract between NewJeans and Adore will remain valid until 2029.

The court pointed out the defendant's imputation by reading the ruling over 40 minutes, which is unusual in a civil case. Among them, the main content was about Min Hee-jin, former CEO of Ador.

NewJeans has claimed that Hive conducted an unfair audit of former representative Min and dismissed him, destroying the trust relationship. However, the court said that the absence of Ador's management occurred just because former CEO Min was dismissed from his position as CEOIt is difficult to say that they have lost their ability to perform their duties, and that the members cannot be considered to have signed an exclusive contract with Adore due to the trust relationship with former CEO Min.

He also said that former CEO Min's actions, such as creating opposition to Hive and meeting investors to take over Adore, were not intended to protect Hive, but to become independent from Hive, and that the Kakao Talk dialogue was included in the ruling because it had the ability to prove in accordance with the due audit process.

The court did not accept claims that the Hive PR manager made remarks disparaging NewJeans, that the girl group ILLIT manager under the Hive label Believe Lab said to ignore Hani, or that ILLIT copied NewJeans.

The court said "Forcing exclusive activities contrary to the free will of celebrities is a violation of personal rights. However, with the full support of the company, it is difficult to say that personal rights have been violated to leave the exclusive contract, claiming that it is forced to sign an exclusive contract when excessive demands are not accepted, raising fandom and raising issues such as personnel and content, which are management judgment areas", he pointed out.

NewJeans immediately appealed.

The industry's view of New Jeans is cold.

An official said "NewJeans' golden time is coming to an end. Of course, it is impossible to say when the appeals court will end, but the trial will continue until next year, no matter how fast it proceeds. Even if you hold it as a minimum, there will be a gap of more than two years. In the meantime, latecomers continue to emerge, and the existence of NewJeans is inevitably forgotten. The average life expectancy of a girl group is five to seven years, and NewJeans missed the golden age."

In short, it is beleaguered. So what's the next step for NewJeans.

Unfortunately, it seems difficult to reunite with former CEO Min, whom the members have longed for. In the ruling, the court pointed out former representative Min's words and actions as a problem. In particular, the transcript of the conversation in question was also adopted as ' due evidence'. This could directly affect lawsuits between Min and Hive, as well as lawsuits to confirm the termination of the contract between Min and Hive's affiliates. This is because Hive has already submitted the transcript to the court as a major reason attributable to it. Moreover, former CEO Min has established a new agency, OK, despite the clause prohibiting competition. Officials say it is unlikely that they will bring NewJeans with astronomical penalties at a time when they are overwhelmed by their lawsuit and the issue of their new home.

Now where should New Jeans head. "Let's go back to the fans together," Ador said, adding that he was ready for NewJeans' activities, including the release of a full-length album.

silk781220@sportschosun.com

NewJeans Suffer Complete Defeat in Contract Dispute With ADOR

Celebrity