The first hearing in the legal dispute between K-pop girl group NewJeans and their agency ADOR took place at the Seoul Central District Court on Friday. The lawsuit, filed by ADOR, aims to prevent the group from pursuing independent activities while their exclusive contract remains in dispute.
All five NewJeans members—also referred to as NJZ—voluntarily attended the hearing, though they were not legally required to do so.
At the core of the case is whether the group's contract termination was justified. ADOR claims the members severed ties without valid cause, while NewJeans argues that HYBE’s alleged discrimination and unfair treatment left them no choice.
ADOR’s legal team emphasized the company’s role in the group's rise to success, arguing that its investment and support were instrumental in making NewJeans a top-tier act. "NewJeans' talent and dedication played a significant role in their success, but that alone does not explain their meteoric rise," ADOR’s legal representatives stated.
They highlighted the contributions of more than 50 staff members, including stylists, choreographers, and managers, who worked tirelessly to build the group from their trainee days.
The agency also accused the members of violating contractual obligations by adopting the new name NJZ and attempting to sign with another agency. ADOR’s legal team dismissed claims of unfair treatment by HYBE, arguing that the dispute does not involve unfair profit distribution, which is a common point of contention in contract disputes.
NewJeans’ legal team, however, presented a starkly different narrative, arguing that ADOR failed to protect the members from discrimination within HYBE, rendering the contract void. "HYBE and its sublabels have persistently marginalized and undermined NewJeans," their lawyers claimed.
"ADOR didn't have the ability or the willingness to intervene. No other agency would have remained passive in the face of such unfair treatment."
The group’s legal team also cited the removal of former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin as a severe breach of managerial duty. "HYBE did not just oust Min. It tried to destroy NewJeans along with her," they argued.
Each NewJeans member also took the stand to share their experiences. Haerin said she felt "helpless" watching HYBE tarnish their image while ADOR failed to intervene. Danielle expressed fear when Min "faced attacks" from the media. Hyein accused ADOR of being "filled with HYBE loyalists" who had no intention of defending the group.
Hanni alleged "hypocrisy" from HYBE, saying the agency blocked them while claiming to support them. Minji described the extreme stress and anxiety the members endured leading up to their comeback.
In November 2024, NewJeans members announced they were terminating their contracts with ADOR due to breaches by the agency and began operating independently. In response, ADOR filed injunctions in January and February to prevent their activities, insisting that the contracts were still legally binding.
The court has requested additional evidence from both parties, and the next hearing is scheduled for March 14.
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