ADOR, the agency representing the girl group NewJeans (NJZ), refuted the group’s claims about the termination of their exclusive contract, arguing that these claims contradict objective facts.
On the morning of March 7, the Seoul Central District Court held a hearing regarding ADOR's request for an injunction to maintain its status as NewJeans' management agency and prevent the members from independently signing advertising contracts. This case follows ADOR's lawsuit filed in December 2024, seeking confirmation that the exclusive contract with NewJeans is still valid until 2029.
During the hearing, ADOR's legal representatives argued that there were no valid reasons for terminating the contract, stating, “The essential obligations of an exclusive contract are to provide opportunities for entertainment activities and to settle profits. ADOR has fulfilled these obligations, which is why NewJeans has become a global star. Each member has received a settlement of 5 billion KRW (about $3.75 million).”
ADOR also emphasized that “NewJeans is a group that HYBE has invested a substantial 210 billion KRW (about $158.55 million) into, and no company would act foolishly by discriminating against or undermining such a group. NewJeans' claims are contrary to objective facts, relying mostly on speculation and assumptions. You cannot terminate an exclusive contract based on mere conjecture.”
The agency further pointed out that NewJeans' actions surrounding the contract termination notice were irrelevant and demonstrated that there was no legitimate reason to end the contract. This injunction is part of ADOR's broader legal strategy to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract, which is set to last until July 31, 2029. The agency also seeks to prevent the NewJeans members from signing advertising contracts or engaging in related activities without ADOR’s consent.
The NewJeans members have been in dispute with ADOR over their exclusive contract. On November 28, 2024, the group held an emergency press conference where they announced their intention to terminate the contract, stating that the agreement would end after midnight on that day. They also revealed the name 'NJZ' for their independent activities and teased a new song release at 'ComplexCon' in Hong Kong on March 23.
However, ADOR maintains that the exclusive contract remains valid until 2029, and the legal proceedings continue.
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