The Seoul Central District Court has ruled against the K-pop group NewJeans in their lawsuit seeking to terminate their exclusive contract with ADOR. The ruling, delivered on October 30, 2025, upholds the validity of the contract, meaning the group is legally bound to ADOR until 2029 unless a successful appeal is made.
NewJeans initiated the legal battle in November of last year, arguing that ADOR had violated the terms of their agreement, leading to a breakdown of trust. The group cited several reasons for wanting to terminate the contract, including the dismissal of former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, alleged misconduct by the label such as leaks of trainee-era footage, harm to their public image, and purported favoritism toward HYBE's other girl group ILLIT. NewJeans also claimed that the trust between the members and the company had collapsed following the ousting of former CEO Min Hee-jin.
However, the court dismissed these arguments, stating that the dismissal of Min Hee-jin did not constitute a breach of contract and that there was no evidence of an irreparable breakdown of trust or compromised management capabilities on ADOR's part. Presiding Judge Jeong Hoe-il of the Civil Division 41 emphasized that Min’s removal "does not automatically mean NewJeans' management has collapsed," and her position as CEO was not a contractual requirement for the group's continued promotion. The court also noted that ADOR had offered Min Hee-jin a revised contract after her dismissal, which she declined.
Furthermore, the court rejected NewJeans' claims regarding leaked trainee videos and alleged bullying comments, deeming them insufficient grounds for contract termination. The court clarified that artistic disagreements or executive reshuffles alone do not justify ending a valid contract.
ADOR had countered NewJeans' claims by asserting that the contracts were still enforceable and that the agency had "continued to fully support the group without any grounds for termination". The agency had filed a lawsuit in December 2024 seeking confirmation of the contract's validity and requested an injunction to prevent the members from independent activities, which the court granted.
In February, NewJeans announced plans to continue their activities under a new name, NJZ, but the court accepted ADOR's request for an injunction, effectively halting the rebranded group's activities. The court also approved ADOR's request for indirect enforcement, ruling that each NewJeans member must pay 1 billion won (approximately $700,000 USD) to ADOR per violation if they engage in entertainment activities without the company's prior approval.
Following the ruling, NewJeans' legal representatives announced their immediate intention to appeal, stating that it is "impossible" for the members to resume entertainment activities with ADOR because their relationship of trust with the company has been "completely destroyed".
ADOR expressed gratitude to the court for its ruling and announced its commitment to providing full support for the group's resumption of activities. The agency stated that it has completed all preparations for NewJeans to restart their activities, including the release of a new full-length album. HYBE, the parent company of ADOR, echoed this sentiment, expressing hope that the ruling would allow the situation to stabilize. They also reaffirmed their responsibilities as a management agency and stated that they have completed preparations for a full-length album and future activities.
