ADOR, the agency representing the popular girl group NewJeans (NJZ), has responded to the group’s recent claims regarding the termination of their exclusive contract by highlighting the disparity between these claims and the actual facts.
In a hearing held on March 7 at the Seoul Central District Court, ADOR petitioned for an injunction to uphold their status as the management agency for NewJeans and prevent the members from independently pursuing advertising deals. This legal battle stems from ADOR's lawsuit filed back in December 2024, aimed at confirming the continuing validity of their exclusive contract with NewJeans until 2029.
During the court session, ADOR's legal team argued that there were no substantial grounds for terminating the contract, asserting, “The core responsibilities of an exclusive contract revolve around providing opportunities for entertainment activities and sharing profits. ADOR has dutifully fulfilled these obligations, resulting in NewJeans achieving global stardom. Each member has received a generous settlement of 5 billion KRW (approximately $3.75 million).”
Moreover, ADOR underlined, “NewJeans is a group that has garnered a significant investment of 210 billion KRW (around $158.55 million) from HYBE, and it would be imprudent for any entity to undermine such a valuable asset. The claims made by NewJeans are devoid of concrete evidence, primarily relying on speculative notions. Termination of an exclusive contract cannot be justified solely based on assumptions.”
The agency further emphasized that the actions taken by NewJeans in relation to the termination notice were inconsequential and failed to provide a valid justification for contract termination.
This injunction forms a crucial component of ADOR's overarching legal strategy to affirm the legitimacy of the exclusive contract, scheduled to remain in effect until July 31, 2029. ADOR aims to prohibit the members of NewJeans from executing advertising agreements or partaking in associated endeavors without prior authorization from the agency.
Following a dispute between NewJeans members and ADOR over the exclusive contract, the group made a public announcement on November 28, 2024, declaring their intent to end the contract effective midnight on the same day. They unveiled the moniker 'NJZ' for their independent ventures and teased a forthcoming song release at 'ComplexCon' in Hong Kong on March 23.
Contrary to NewJeans' assertions, ADOR maintains that the exclusive contract remains valid until 2029, and the legal proceedings are ongoing.