First Hearing in Adore's Lawsuit Against NewJeans Sparks Interest
On April 3, the Seoul Central District Court's Civil Division 41 held the first hearing for Adore's lawsuit against the five members of NewJeans regarding the validity of their exclusive contract. This case has garnered significant attention, particularly due to the court's reactions during the proceedings.
Previously, on March 21, the court's Civil Division 50 accepted Adore's request for a preliminary injunction to prevent the members from engaging in activities that could undermine the agency's position and to halt any advertising contracts. The court's decision highlighted several key issues, including the production gap caused by the dismissal of Adore's CEO Min Hee-jin, comments made by HYBE's CEO Park Ji-won about giving members like Kim Min-ji extended vacations, and disputes involving director Shin Woo-seok of the Dolphin Kidnapping Group.
The court noted that the evidence presented by Kim Min-ji and others was insufficient to prove that Adore had violated significant obligations of the exclusive contract. In response, the legal representatives for the five members filed an objection and announced a halt to their activities following their Hong Kong concert on March 23. NewJeans expressed disappointment in the court's ruling, stating in interviews that they felt the Korean entertainment industry was trying to portray them as revolutionaries.
Unlike their previous court appearance, the members did not attend this hearing. Adore maintains that the exclusive contract, signed in April 2022, remains valid despite NewJeans' unilateral termination notice, which they argue lacked procedural and substantive grounds. Conversely, NewJeans claims that the trust between them and Adore has been irreparably damaged following the ousting of Min Hee-jin, making their contract termination valid.
Adore argued that the members' assertion that they cannot perform without Min Hee-jin is unreasonable, emphasizing that as a leading subsidiary of HYBE, they could find other producers. They pointed out that the Hong Kong concert was successfully organized by the members independently, contradicting claims that only Min Hee-jin could produce effectively.
NewJeans countered that while Min Hee-jin's role was significant, there was a lack of communication regarding alternative preparations in her absence. They asserted that the new management's values differ fundamentally from those at the time of the original contract, leading to a breakdown of trust.
The court inquired whether a settlement was possible and reflected on the concept of trust in long-term management contracts, noting that this case presents unique challenges in assessing the breakdown of trust.
The next hearing is scheduled for June 5.
