The Seoul Central District Court has ruled that the exclusive contract between K-pop girl group NewJeans and ADOR remains legally valid, rejecting the group’s attempt to terminate the agreement.
ADOR Wins First Trial
On October 30, the court’s Civil Division 41 (Judge Jeong Hoe-il) sided with ADOR in its lawsuit against the five members of NewJeans— Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein — confirming that the exclusive management contract between the two parties is still in effect.
Court’s Earlier Injunction Upheld
In March 2025, the same court granted ADOR’s injunction, barring NewJeans from any independent activities without ADOR’s approval.
That order also included a penalty of ₩10 billion (≈ $7.3 million) per violation for each member if they breached the ruling, effectively restricting all external projects.
Failed Mediation and Ongoing Conflict
Two rounds of court-mediated settlement talks were held earlier this year, but no agreement was reached. NewJeans argued that ADOR had lost the members’ trust after the removal of former CEO Min Hee-jin and the agency’s subsequent management changes.
ADOR maintained that it had invested heavily in the group and that their unilateral termination violated the binding exclusive contract.
What the Ruling Means
With today’s decision, NewJeans remains under ADOR’s management unless a higher court overturns the ruling. Both sides are expected to appeal the verdict.
Legal experts note that this case could set a significant precedent for future artist-agency contract disputes in the K-pop industry.