The K-pop group NewJeans has suffered a setback in their legal battle to part ways with their record label, Ador. A South Korean court on Tuesday ruled that the band's contract, which runs until 2029, remains valid and binding. The five members of the group - Hanni, Hyein, Haerin, Danielle, and Minji - announced last year that they were unilaterally leaving the agency, citing mistreatment and manipulation.
According to local media reports, NewJeans has vowed to appeal the ruling. The group has expressed their determination to not "return to Ador" and continue their activities as normal. The Seoul Central District Court rejected NewJeans' argument that the dismissal of former Ador CEO and their mentor, Min Hee-jin, constituted a breach of contract. The group alleged that her dismissal had broken their trust with the agency.
In a statement released after the ruling, Ador expressed their sincere hope that the judgment "will serve as an opportunity for the artists to calmly reflect on this matter." The label added that it is ready for the members' upcoming activities, including the release of an album, and is now "waiting" patiently.
The case has stunned South Korea where record labels wield immense power and tightly control their stars. It is highly unusual for artists to rebel against them. Formed in July 2022, NewJeans, whose members are aged from 17 to 21, had enjoyed rapid success before their dramatic fallout with the agency. Their first single Attention topped Korean charts right after their debut, while their hit song SuperShy made multiple "best of the year" lists at the end of 2023, including those compiled by Rolling Stone, NME, and Billboard Magazine. Critics had called them a "game-changer" as their blend of 1990s R&B and sugar-coated pop melodies broke through a K-pop scene dominated by electronic beats.
The current situation stems from a year-long standoff between the chart-topping group and its agency. The group's announcement to split from Ador came in November last year during a press conference, following a long and public spat between Min Hee-jin and Ador, as well as its parent company, Hybe - South Korea's biggest music label, whose client list includes K-pop royalty such as BTS and Seventeen. Tensions between Min and Hybe started in April 2024 when Hybe launched audits into Ador, which was then managed by Min, while calling her to step down. Min rejected Hybe's allegations that she was plotting to go independent. In August, she was dismissed as the CEO of Ador.
The band soon issued an ultimatum demanding that Min be reinstated. When Hybe refused, the members went public with a series of complaints against the label, including claims it had deliberately undermined their careers. One of the group's members, Hanni, also alleged that she suffered workplace harassment while working with the label. In December, Ador filed a lawsuit asking the court to confirm the validity of their contract with the group. As the disputes continued, the group's five members attempted to rebrand themselves as NJZ in February. They planned to release a new song but the promotions were halted by a court order. The group still performed it at a show in Hong Kong where they announced a hiatus. Back in March, after the court injunction was issued, the group described the court's decision as "a shock," but said they would "go through it" together.
