NewJeans Faces Legal Setback in Battle Against Ador Agency

Fri Dec 05 2025 06:13:47 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The K-pop sensation NewJeans loses a pivotal court ruling, confirming their contract with Ador remains in effect, amid tensions surrounding mistreatment allegations.

K-pop group NewJeans has faced a legal defeat as a South Korean court ruled that their contract with Ador, lasting until 2029, remains valid. The decision follows the group's allegations of mistreatment and manipulation after they attempted to unilaterally leave the agency. NewJeans plans to appeal the ruling, as they expressed the impossibility of continuing with their current label despite their earlier success. This case highlights the ongoing struggles within the K-pop industry regarding artist autonomy and contractual power dynamics.

K-pop group NewJeans has lost a legal battle to leave its record label Ador.

A South Korean court on Tuesday ruled that the act's contract with the label, which runs until 2029, remains valid.

The group's five members - Hanni, Hyein, Haerin, Danielle, and Minji - announced last year that they were unilaterally leaving the agency, citing mistreatment and manipulation.

The group has said it will appeal the ruling, according to local media reports.

NewJeans stated it is impossible to return to Ador and continue their activities as normal, the reports detailed.

The Seoul Central District Court rejected NewJeans' argument that the dismissal of former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin, who was also the group's mentor, constituted a breach of contract. NewJeans alleged that her dismissal broke their trust with the agency.

In a statement released after the ruling, Ador expressed hopes that the judgment would help the artists reflect on the matter calmly.

Ador is also ready for the members' upcoming activities, including an album release, and is now waiting for their direction.

The case has shocked many in South Korea, where record labels exert substantial control over their artists, making it rare for them to rebel against such authority.

Since their formation in July 2022, NewJeans has achieved rapid success, with their first single, Attention, topping Korean charts after their debut, and their later song SuperShy making it onto several best of the year lists.

Critics hailed them as a game-changer, noting their unique blend of 1990s R&B and sugar-coated pop melodies that differentiate them from typical K-pop styles.

What led us here?

Tuesday's ruling comes after a year-long conflict between the popular group and their agency.

Initially, the group announced their intent to part ways with Ador in November of last year, following a series of disputes involving Min Hee-jin and Ador's parent company, Hybe, South Korea's largest record label, known for managing K-pop giants like BTS and Seventeen.

Tensions escalated in April 2024 when Hybe initiated audits into Ador, resulting in Min's dismissal as CEO. Min denied Hybe's claims of her plans to operate independently.

After her removal, the band issued demands for Min's reinstatement, but when Hybe refused, the group publicly voiced complaints, alleging that the label undermined their careers. Hanni also reported incidents of workplace harassment.

In December, Ador filed a lawsuit to affirm the validity of their contract with NewJeans amidst ongoing disputes. Attempts by the group to rebrand as NJZ and release new music were halted by court orders.

This ruling represents a significant moment in the K-pop industry, highlighting the ongoing struggles artists face regarding their agency contracts and the extent of control exerted by record labels.