Seoul court upholds ADOR’s contract; urges group to resume activities under label
A South Korean court has ruled against K-pop group NewJeans in their high-profile legal battle with their label ADOR, rejecting the members’ bid to terminate their contracts over alleged “mistreatment.”
The decision, issued by the Seoul Central District Court on Thursday, marks the second ruling in favor of ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE Corporation, the entertainment powerhouse behind BTS and Tomorrow X Together (TXT).
“The court accepted all positions of the agency, keeping its contract with the group valid,” a court representative told AFP.
Court says trust not ‘irreparably damaged’
In its verdict, the court concluded that the group’s claims of mistreatment did not constitute a sufficient breach of trust to justify ending the exclusive contract.
“The level of trust between ADOR and NewJeans cannot be considered so damaged as to justify terminating the exclusive contract,” the court said, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The ruling also reaffirmed an earlier injunction granted in March, which prohibited the five members from pursuing outside commercial projects without ADOR’s consent while the legal proceedings were ongoing.
Dispute over producer’s dismissal and alleged mistreatment
The conflict began last year when reports emerged that HYBE had removed Min Hee-jin, ADOR’s star producer and CEO, who was instrumental in NewJeans’ debut and global success.
The members of NewJeans publicly supported Min, demanding her reinstatement — a move that HYBE declined. Following this, the group accused ADOR and its parent company of sabotaging their careers through “deliberate miscommunications and manipulation.”
Member Hanni also alleged instances of workplace harassment, further fueling the controversy.
However, Thursday’s court ruling clarified that no contractual clause required Min Hee-jin to remain as ADOR’s CEO, undermining one of the group’s core legal arguments.
ADOR welcomes verdict, hints at comeback
ADOR issued a statement welcoming the court’s decision and extended an olive branch to the members, urging them to return to their artistic activities.
“We sincerely hope that today’s judgement will serve as an opportunity for the artists to calmly reflect on this matter,” the label said.
It also revealed that preparations for NewJeans’ next album were already underway, signaling the company’s intent to move forward with new projects.
Background: NewJeans’ meteoric rise
Since debuting in 2022, NewJeans has become one of the most successful K-pop groups under the HYBE umbrella, known for their minimalist style and hit tracks like Attention, Super Shy, and ETA.
Their rapid global success has drawn comparisons to earlier generations of K-pop icons such as Blackpink and Red Velvet, while also highlighting tensions between corporate control and artist independence in the multi-billion-dollar Korean entertainment industry.
The ruling may set an important precedent for idol–agency relationships in South Korea, as more artists push for creative and contractual autonomy in an industry historically defined by strict management control.
