The highly publicized struggle for independence by NewJeans has hit another significant roadblock. In a recent development, the Seoul High Court has once again sided with their agency, ADOR, dismissing an appeal filed by the members seeking to pursue independent activities. This ruling effectively blocks NewJeans from engaging in any promotional or contractual work without ADOR‘s direct involvement.
The legal battle began when NewJeans sought to break free from their exclusive contract with ADOR. Their initial attempt to gain independence was met with a decisive ruling from the Seoul Central District Court, which fully accepted ADOR‘s request for an injunction. This injunction aimed to uphold ADOR‘s management rights over the group and prevent the members from signing independent advertising contracts.
NewJeans members, clearly dissatisfied with the initial judgment, objected to the decision. When their objection was denied, they swiftly filed an appeal, hoping for a different outcome. However, as reported by SPOTV News on June 17, the 25-2 Civil Division of the Seoul High Court has now also ruled in favor of ADOR, reinforcing the original decision.
This latest ruling means that for the foreseeable future, NewJeans‘ professional activities remain firmly under ADOR‘s control. The dream of independent ventures, at least for now, appears to be out of reach.
Despite these legal setbacks, the sentiment from the NewJeans members remains resolute. During the second hearing of ADOR’s lawsuit to confirm the validity of the group’s exclusive contract, the members’ stance was unwavering. They declared,
“The trust between us has completely collapsed. We have crossed a river of no return.”
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