In a significant legal ruling, a South Korean court has dismissed claims by the popular K-pop group NewJeans, who sought to terminate their contract with their management label, ADOR, citing allegations of mistreatment. The Seoul Central District Court upheld the validity of the contract, marking the second legal victory for ADOR in this ongoing dispute. The court rejected the group’s argument that mistreatment had irreparably damaged their trust in the agency, stating that the level of trust was not sufficiently compromised to justify contract termination. NewJeans, a five-member girl group under HYBE—the parent company of ADOR and the powerhouse behind global sensation BTS—had announced their intention to leave ADOR in November, sparking a highly publicized legal battle. ADOR had previously filed for an injunction to prevent the group from engaging in independent commercial activities, which the court granted in March. The dispute intensified following allegations that HYBE forced out ADOR’s former CEO, Min Hee-jin, a key figure in NewJeans’ success. The group demanded her reinstatement, but HYBE refused, leading to public accusations of career sabotage and workplace harassment. The court clarified that the contract did not mandate Min’s leadership of ADOR. ADOR welcomed the ruling and expressed hope for reconciliation, announcing plans for a new album release.
South Korean court rules against K-pop group NewJeans in label dispute over ‘mistreatment’
