ADOR Responds to NewJeans Members Amid Contract Dispute
On March 6, 2025, ADOR, the agency representing NewJeans, issued a statement addressing the ongoing contract dispute with the group's members. The agency clarified that it had expanded its request for a temporary injunction regarding the 'preservation of agency status and prohibition of advertising contracts' due to NewJeans' recent activities, including the announcement of new music and major overseas performances.
The conflict began when the members unilaterally claimed to have terminated their contracts with ADOR in November 2024. In response, ADOR filed a lawsuit in December 2024 at the Seoul Central District Court to confirm the validity of the contracts and subsequently sought a temporary injunction in January 2025.
In February, ADOR further expanded its injunction request, prompting the members to accuse the agency of attempting to block all their activities. ADOR countered these claims, stating that their intention was not to restrict the members but rather to encourage them to continue their entertainment activities in accordance with their contracts.
The members, who have recently changed their group name to NJZ and announced a concert in Hong Kong from March 21 to 23, raised concerns about the timing of ADOR's expanded injunction request, suggesting it was a retaliatory measure following their allegations that Bang Si-hyuk, the chairman of ADOR's parent company HYBE, attempted to sabotage their performances.
However, ADOR maintained its position, asserting that it has never pressured concert organizers and that the expansion of the injunction request was not a retaliatory action. The hearing for the injunction regarding advertising contracts is scheduled for March 7, while the first court hearing for the contract validity lawsuit will take place on April 3, 2025.
In their statement, ADOR emphasized that the expansion of the injunction request was necessary due to NewJeans' increased activities and reiterated their commitment to working together with the members under the terms of their contracts.
