On Thursday, October 30, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that K-pop girl group NewJeans’ contract with HYBE-owned label ADOR cannot be terminated, binding the group to their management until 2029. NewJeans earlier sought to terminate the contract in November 2024, citing a “breakdown of trust.” Now, after years of being screwed over by a cutthroat industry, one wonders if the five-piece group will ever catch a break from this years-long conflict.
The court ruling is just the latest development in a long and increasingly tangled dispute between NewJeans, ADOR, and its parent company HYBE. What began as a disagreement over creative control and management has since unfolded into a series of controversies, spanning stock fraud allegations and internal power struggles. Below are some of the key moments that have defined the conflict so far.
Police Seek Arrest of HYBE Chair
Just this month, South Korean police announced that it is collecting evidence and testimonies against HYBE’s Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, while eyeing an arrest warrant to bring the music executive into custody. Bang is accused of deceiving investors in 2019 by claiming that the company would not go public while also selling shares to a private equity fund, violating South Korea’s Capital Markets Act. In July, police raided the HYBE headquarters as part of an ongoing investigation into the stock fraud allegations.
Temporary ‘NJZ’ Rebrand
In February, amid contract disputes, NewJeans members announced that the group would start using the name NJZ instead. “We are thrilled to be stepping onto the stage for the first time as NJZ and share something new with everyone,” said member Minji in a press release ahead of their performance at ComplexCon Hong Kong in March.
However, in April, after an injunction regarding the contract dispute, NewJeans was required to revert back to their old name.
Min Hee-jin Dismissed as ADOR CEO
After five years working with ADOR and three years as its CEO, music producer and art director Min Hee-jin was dismissed from the label in August 2024, but retained her position on its board of directors. Her departure followed allegations that she planned to seize full control of ADOR, an accusation she denies. Amid this conflict, NewJeans spoke out in support of Min, going so far as to call HYBE “inhumane,” which only put them at odds with the company’s executives.
In November 2024, Min cut all ties with the label by resigning from the board, citing a months-long “hellish dispute with HYBE.”
“I had hoped that HYBE would admit their mistakes on their own, and I have worked tirelessly to protect NewJeans within the distorted HYBE,” she said in her publicized resignation letter.
Min’s departure from ADOR signaled a turning point in the dispute, closing one chapter of NewJeans’ ongoing struggle with their management. Her exit left the group without the creative lead who helped shape their image and sound, while HYBE continued to navigate the backlash from fans and industry watchers alike.
As legal proceedings and investigations continue, NewJeans remain caught between loyalty and litigation, reflecting broader tensions that define South Korea’s tightly controlled pop industry.
