On February 24th, ADOR was officially cleared of workplace harassment and illegal confinement allegations by the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office.
Initially, 'A,' the manager of NJZ, claimed in media interviews that ADOR had lured them into a work discussion under false pretenses, leading to an alleged illegal confinement episode lasting about three hours where they were asked to surrender their personal phone. 'A' subsequently reported CEO Kim Joo Young to the Ministry of Employment and Labor based on these allegations.
However, after an investigation, the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office determined on February 24th that there wasn't enough evidence to support the claims of workplace harassment, resulting in the case being administratively closed without charges. The critical discovery was that the materials submitted by 'A' failed to substantiate the allegations.
Earlier, NJZ members had spoken out, highlighting instances of alleged harassment by ADOR and HYBE, including emotional encounters and sudden interrogations without prior notice. They expressed deep discontent towards the treatment of the remaining staff members.
In response, ADOR countered these allegations, asserting that 'A' had been engaged in unauthorized communication with advertisers, attempting to directly broker deals between artists and brands in violation of existing contracts. ADOR stated that 'A' had acknowledged and participated in such activities, which constituted a severe breach of contract endangering the exclusivity agreements of the artists.
Additionally, ADOR clarified, "In response to these actions, the company was compelled to suspend 'A' from duties and request the return of a company-provided laptop. We adamantly deny any involvement in illegal confinement or coercive behaviors. Efforts were made to facilitate dialogue and hear 'A's perspective, all rebuffed by 'A.'"
The resolution of the NJZ-ADOR dispute prompted Korean netizens to weigh in with criticisms directed at NJZ and Min Hee Jin for what they perceived as false accusations and sensationalized narratives. Some common sentiments included doubts about the group's understanding of reality, expressed disappointment, and skepticism towards the band's future.
The online discourse touched upon suspicions of deceptive tactics and the potential motivations behind the allegations against ADOR. Comments questioning the veracity of NJZ's claims and speculating on underlying intentions were prevalent among the conversations.
Overall, the latest developments in the NJZ-ADOR controversy have sparked intense discussions online, with netizens actively dissecting the intricacies of the situation and voicing their opinions on the matter.