The legal battle between NewJeans and their agency, ADOR, continues to escalate, with the recent court hearing revealing a stark divide in their perspectives. At the heart of the dispute lies the departure of former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin and its impact on the group’s future.
On April 3, 2025, the Seoul Central District Court held its first hearing regarding ADOR’s lawsuit against NewJeans over the validity of their exclusive contract. The hearing brought to light the core issues: the change in producers, the alleged breakdown of trust, and the legitimacy of the contract termination.
The Producer Dilemma
NewJeans maintains that Min Hee Jin was essential to their success and that ADOR failed to adequately prepare for her departure. They argue they were not consulted or informed about the producer changes.
“We can’t do it without Min Hee Jin,” they essentially claimed, expressing concern over the lack of communication.
ADOR, however, acknowledges Min Hee Jin’s contributions but argues that as a subsidiary of HYBE, they have the resources to find a suitable replacement. They pointed out that if they had planned to remove her, they would have ensured a producer was in place. ADOR also claimed that NewJeans refused to communicate their views, complicating the process.
The Trust Factor
NewJeans claims the company’s internal changes and leadership shift have irrevocably damaged their trust in ADOR, justifying contract termination. They emphasized that the new management’s differing values make a working relationship impossible.
ADOR countered this by highlighting NewJeans‘ successful performance at “ComplexCon Hong Kong” on March 23, 2025, without Min Hee Jin.
“NewJeans did just fine without her in Hong Kong,” ADOR argued, pointing out the inconsistency between their claims and their performance.
The court acknowledged the complexity of the trust issue, noting that its traditional interpretation might not apply to a group with NewJeans’ established success.
Contract Termination
NewJeans cited ADOR‘s failure to address eight corrective actions requested in November 2023, claiming this justified termination under their contract.
ADOR refuted these claims, stating that NewJeans lacked procedural and substantive evidence and did not follow proper termination procedures.
A Stalemate
ADOR expressed willingness to settle, but NewJeans rejected the offer, citing emotional concerns. The court has scheduled the next hearing for June 5, 2025, demanding ADOR present their producer support plans and NewJeans provide further evidence for contract termination.
Adding to the tension, the court granted ADOR’s injunction on March 21, 2025, preventing NewJeans from engaging in advertising contracts, effectively halting their activities post-Hong Kong performance.
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