K-pop girl group NewJeans has lost its exclusive contract dispute against its agency, ADOR. The Seoul Central District Court ruled that none of the reasons the group cited for terminating the agreement could be accepted. The court stated that the dismissal of former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin did not qualify as grounds to nullify the contract.
The ruling, handed down on October 30 by Chief Judge Jeong Hoe-il of the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Agreement Division 41, confirmed the validity of the group’s exclusive contract signed with ADOR in 2022 until the contract expires in 2029. The decision keeps NewJeans bound to the agency despite the group’s earlier attempt to leave. With the court siding with ADOR, the future of NewJeans remains uncertain as the legal battle between both parties continues, with neither showing signs of backing down.
The dispute between NewJeans and ADOR began in November 2024 when the members cited a “breakdown of trust” as the reason for their intent to terminate their contracts. The group announced plans to pursue activities independently under the new name NJZ and later went on hiatus following a performance at ComplexCon Hong Kong in March.
Legal disputes of this nature have long shaped the K-pop industry. In 2022, members of LOONA filed injunctions against their agency BlockBerry Creative, citing unfair profit distribution and unauthorized transfers of their contracts. Their case resulted in all twelve members successfully terminating their agreements and leaving the company.
NewJeans’ situation adds to the ongoing conversation about artist rights, management control, and the future of idol contracts in K-pop, where creative freedom often collides with corporate interests.
