The ongoing dispute between NewJeans and their agency, ADOR, is set to escalate into a full-scale legal battle next month.
According to legal sources on February 6, the Seoul Central District Court's 50th Civil Division has scheduled a hearing for ADOR’s injunction against NewJeans members—Hanni, Minji, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein—on March 7.
NewJeans previously held an emergency press conference on November 28, 2023, announcing that ADOR had failed to address contract violations within the 14-day deadline. As a result, the group declared their exclusive contracts terminated as of midnight on November 29 and have since pursued independent activities. The members have avoided using the NewJeans name, instead promoting individually while maintaining communication with fans through personal social media accounts.
In response, ADOR filed an injunction on January 13, requesting that the court recognize its role as the group's official management company and prohibit the members from signing independent advertising contracts. The agency emphasized that the move was necessary to prevent confusion and financial losses for third parties, such as advertisers, as the members continued engaging in independent contract negotiations.
Additionally, ADOR filed a lawsuit on December 3 seeking legal confirmation that its exclusive contracts with NewJeans remain valid. The first oral argument for this lawsuit is set for April 3 at the Seoul Central District Court’s 41st Civil Agreement Division.
On January 23, NewJeans announced their legal response, appointing Sejong Law Firm—also representing former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin—as their legal counsel. The members accused ADOR and HYBE of persistent harassment, stating, "They urge us to return, yet behind the scenes, they continue their attacks. We have no intention of going back to HYBE or ADOR, where even basic trust no longer exists."
The group further asserted that they initially sought to resolve matters amicably but were met with continued hostility. "Even after terminating our contracts, we hoped to wrap up remaining schedules peacefully to avoid harming anyone. However, ADOR and HYBE disregarded our efforts and caused harm through wrongful actions. We will fight in court to expose the truth and defend our rights."
With legal proceedings now set in motion, the battle over NewJeans’ contracts and career autonomy is expected to intensify in the coming months.
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