On March 21 KST, the Seoul Central District Court delivered a significant ruling in the ongoing dispute between ADOR and the members of NewJeans (NJZ). The court approved ADOR‘s injunction request, effectively banning NewJeans from engaging in independent activities before a final legal decision is made regarding their contract termination.
Background of the Dispute
The legal battle stems from NewJeans‘ desire to terminate their exclusive contracts with ADOR and HYBE Labels, citing claims of discrimination and exclusion. This followed an emergency press conference held by the group on November 28. In response, ADOR filed an injunction in January, asserting that any independent activities by NewJeans prior to a court ruling would constitute a severe breach of contract.
ADOR further expanded their request to include a ban on all musical and entertainment activities by the group, encompassing writing, composing, singing, performing, and broadcasting.
Court Hearing and Arguments
On March 7 KST, both parties presented their arguments in court. NewJeans‘ representatives argued that they had faced discrimination and exclusion under ADOR and HYBE, justifying their decision to seek contract termination. ADOR, on the other hand, vehemently denied these claims, asserting that no such discrimination or exclusion occurred.
Court’s Decision and Rationale
The Seoul Central District Court sided with ADOR, ruling that it would be unlawful for NewJeans to freely engage in entertainment activities before the court officially acknowledges the termination of their contracts. The court emphasized the importance of maintaining contractual obligations until a thorough legal assessment is completed.
The court stated,
“An entertainer may terminate an exclusive contract if mutual trust between the contracting parties is broken, but the party claiming the termination bears the responsibility to prove that the circumstances have reached a point where maintaining the contractual relationship is no longer feasible.”
Furthermore, the court addressed the dismissal of ADOR‘s former CEO, Min Hee Jin, stating,
“The mere fact that Ador’s former CEO (Min Hee Jin) was dismissed does not conclusively establish that a gap in producing work for NewJeans has arisen or that Ador lacks the intent or capability to fulfill its duties.”
Impact on NewJeans’ Upcoming Schedule
This ruling casts doubt on NewJeans’ scheduled performance at ‘Complex Con Hong Kong 2025‘ on March 23. The group had planned to debut a new song at the event. However, with the court’s injunction in place, the future of this performance remains uncertain.
What are your thoughts on the ruling? Do you think NJZ will still perform despite the court ruling against them?
