NewJeans have lost their legal appeal to break away from their record label ADOR, as ruled by the Seoul High Court on Tuesday, June 18, 2025.
The five-member K-pop group, consisting of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, must continue to honor their exclusive contracts with ADOR and are barred from pursuing solo careers while still under the agreement.
ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE, welcomed the decision, stating, “We sincerely appreciate the court’s decision. We hope this ruling will serve as an opportunity for the members to return to their rightful place as NewJeans and resume their activities. As they approach their third debut anniversary next month, ADOR is committed to providing full support for the artists’ further growth and success.”
The label had previously argued that allowing the group to terminate their contracts and sign individual deals would “destabilise” the K-pop industry. In a statement, ADOR said, “This decision was made to prevent confusion and potential harm to third parties, including advertisers. Allowing unilateral terminations of exclusive contracts and independent activities without legal procedures could undermine investment in the entertainment industry and destabilise the K-pop sector.”
The legal drama dates back to September 2024, when NewJeans accused ADOR of bullying, harassment, and deception. The group filed for contract termination two months later, claiming breaches of agreement by the agency. However, South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labour dismissed the harassment allegations after an investigation.
Following that, the group held an emergency press conference, announcing their intent to leave ADOR and warning that failure to resolve contract issues would lead to legal action on their part.
ADOR responded critically, saying, “We regret that the press conference regarding the termination of the exclusive contract was planned and conducted without sufficient review, prior to receiving a response to the legal notice.”
The label then filed its own lawsuit, seeking clarification that NewJeans could not legally walk away from the contract based solely on their accusations. ADOR emphasized the need to maintain legal order and prevent potential violations by the artists. “It was necessary to clarify to both the artist and all relevant stakeholders that our exclusive contract cannot be unilaterally terminated based solely on the claims from one side,” they said.
They also stated, “We believe it is important to clarify any misunderstanding that the exclusive contract with the artist has been lawfully terminated, as this could lead to the artist engaging in entertainment activities in violation of the existing agreement.”
ADOR continues to deny all allegations brought forward by NewJeans, and with the court siding with the label, the group’s next steps remain uncertain. For now, NewJeans are legally bound to ADOR.
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