South Korean Court Rules NewJeans’ Contract With ADOR Is Valid Until 2029

Summary

• NewJeans’ contract with ADOR is valid until 2029, ruled the Seoul Central District Court
• The court rejected the group’s termination claims, stating the former CEO’s dismissal was not a breach
• ADOR is now committed to resuming NewJeans’ activities, including a full album release

NewJeans has lost its legal battle against record label ADOR after almost a year.

The Seoul Central District Court officially ruled that the group’s contract with ADOR remains valid until 2029. The ruling was made several months after the Seoul High Court rejected the appeal filed by members Hanni, Hyein, Haerin, Danielle and Minji to terminate their exclusive contracts with the label. The court further shut down NewJeans’ claims that ADOR’s dismissal of the group’s mentor and former label CEO Min Hee-jin was a breach of contract.

ADOR shared a statement:

“Hello, this is ADOR.

Today (October 30 KST), the Korean court ruled in the lawsuit confirming the validity of the exclusive contract between ADOR and our artist NewJeans, affirming that the exclusive contract between both parties remains valid.

The court determined that ADOR did not violate any of its duties as a management agency, and that attempts to breach the exclusive contract by creating the appearance of a broken trust relationship should not be permitted. We express our deep gratitude for the court’s decision.

Since NewJeans claimed unilateral termination of the contract last November, we have cautiously watched a series of processes with a heavy heart and responded accordingly. This included the main lawsuit, an injunction application to prevent market confusion, the court granting that injunction, the artist’s immediate appeal, and the court’s decision to dismiss that appeal. For a period of nearly a year, the courts have repeatedly ruled in various related lawsuits that the label holds the position of management agency under the exclusive contract, and that the artist must engage in entertainment activities along with us.

We sincerely hope that today’s judgment, which comes after long-term verification of various claims and facts and reaffirms prior rulings, will serve as an opportunity for the artists to calmly reflect on this matter.

ADOR is committed to re-emphasizing its role and responsibilities as NewJeans’ management agency. As we stated during the trial, we have completed preparations for the artist’s activities, including the release of a studio album, and are waiting. We will do our utmost to return to the fans through discussions with the artist.

Thank you.”

In November 2024, NewJeans revealed their plans to depart ADOR, citing the label’s mistreatment towards them and their staff, “countless preventions and contradictions, deliberate miscommunication, and manipulation regarding multiple areas.” Hanni added that the label is “a company that no longer has any sincerity in the art of music that is created, is rather fixated on appearing like a well-working company despite only having thoughts about making money, and does not have any conscience about the negative effect they create through their non-authentic means.” ADOR responded by stating that the agreement between the label and NewJeans “remains in full effect.”

The group rebranded in February 2025 as NJZ, but the Seoul Central District Court sided with ADOR a month later as their exclusive agency. NewJeans announced their hiatus shortly after.

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