NewJeans and Ador Enter Legal Battle Over Contract Dispute

The legal conflict between the K-pop group NewJeans and their agency Ador is set to intensify. According to reports from the legal community, the Seoul Central District Court's Civil Division 41 has scheduled the first hearing for Ador's lawsuit seeking confirmation of the validity of the exclusive contract with NewJeans for April 3, 2025, at 11:30 AM.

In November 2024, NewJeans members held an emergency press conference, claiming that Ador had violated contract terms and asserting that they were no longer affiliated with the agency. They have since created a separate account named 'Jins for Free' to solicit new stage names, indicating their intention to pursue independent activities without returning to Ador.

In response, Ador filed a lawsuit in December 2024, asserting that the exclusive contract with NewJeans remains valid. The agency also sought a temporary injunction to prevent the members from entering into independent advertising contracts and activities, emphasizing that their attempts to engage in solo entertainment activities before a legal resolution could constitute a serious breach of contract.

The members have since appointed the law firm Sejong as their legal representative and have indicated plans to respond legally to Ador's injunction request. Notably, Sejong also represents Min Hee-jin, the former head of Ador and the producer of NewJeans, who is currently involved in a separate lawsuit against Ador regarding the termination of a shareholder agreement. The first hearing for that case took place on January 23, 2025, with a second hearing scheduled for April 17, 2025.