News Hybe/MHJ Civil War Megathread (42 Viewers)

[Selfmate]

NewJeans remains barred from independent activities after court upholds injunction

The Seoul Central District Court rejected NewJeans' request to strike down an injunction blocking the group's five members from carrying out independent activities, describing its initial decision as “valid.”

On March 21, the court granted an injunction blocking members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein from carrying out independent activities without the prior consent of their agency, ADOR, whether individually, through legal guardians or via third parties. The plaintiffs, ADOR, had argued that the order would preserve its position as the group's agency.

NewJeans immediately challenged the court's ruling but announced at ComplexCon Hong Kong on March 23 that it would suspend all activities for the time being.

The legal battle between NewJeans and ADOR now appears likely to move to an appeals court. With the request rejected, the members can officially appeal.

NewJeans rose to fame following its debut on July 22, 2022, with the release of songs “Attention” (2022) and “Hype Boy” (2023). The group continued its success with subsequent songs such as “Ditto” (2022), “Super Shy” (2023) and “How Sweet” (2024).

The group declared its intent to terminate its exclusive contract with ADOR during an emergency news conference on Nov. 28 last year, hinting at autonomous future promotions or music releases. The announcement came following claims that ADOR had failed to address and resolve eight issues raised by the group on Nov. 13 by the deadline.

In December, the members launched a new social media account and, last February, revealed a new group name: NJZ.

ADOR responded by stating that “all accounts other than the official NewJeans channels managed by ADOR were created without prior agreement under the exclusive contract. We are already receiving inquiries and complaints from advertisers and other third parties related to content posted on those accounts. Such activities may lead to legal issues.”

Separately, a trial is ongoing over ADOR’s lawsuit regarding the validity of its exclusive contract with the members.

Source: https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.co...vities-after-court-upholds-injunction/2286826

 

[Selfmate]

'Ashamed and sorry': NewJeans fan club publicly apologizes to ADOR CEO Kim Ju Young; accepts legal risk over malicious remarks

NewJeans fan club issues public apology to ADOR CEO Ju Young Kim after malicious comments spark a backlash, pledging reform and accepting legal responsibility. Read more here!

The fan club of NewJeans (NJZ), has issued a detailed public apology to ADOR CEO Ju Young Kim after a string of malicious and defamatory comments made by members of the fan community went viral across online platforms. The incident has sparked a wave of controversy within the K-pop community and raised broader questions about fan accountability, cyberbullying, and the responsibilities of organized fan clubs.

The apology comes in the wake of a post shared on a Korean online community, where screenshots of hurtful comments made by club members were compiled and exposed. The remarks targeted CEO Ju Young Kim with harsh insults, crude language, and baseless speculations. Some comments went so far as to link her negatively to Bang Si Hyuk, the founder of HYBE Labels, further escalating the issue and inviting potential legal consequences.

In response, the NJZ's fan club issued a comprehensive statement, taking full responsibility for the situation and expressing regret over their delayed response. The statement acknowledged the gravity of the comments and the failure of fan club administrators to monitor and manage the conversation within their community.

As quoted by Koreaboo, “We feel responsible for the serious insults and malicious comments regarding ADOR’s CEO, Ju Young Kim, and apologize for what occurred in our fan club. The offensive comments made by our members in the fan club cannot be forgiven with any excuse. We also deeply regret that there were no edits or corrections to the comments made,” the fan club wrote.

The fan club clarified that they are aware of the potential legal ramifications of the comments made on their platform and expressed, “We sincerely apologize to ADOR’s CEO, as it is unacceptable to insult someone with crude and excessive comments. We recognize that we are not free from legal issues, including the notices on the fan cafe. We will accept all responses in this regard.”

The apology also extended personal accountability from the fan club’s leadership, acknowledging that their delay in realizing the severity of the situation made the issue worse. The operator of the fan club admitted that during the height of media scrutiny and the ongoing national audits involving ADOR, they were overwhelmed and inexperienced, as it was their first time facing such intense circumstances. This distraction, they acknowledged, caused them to overlook how their inaction and failure to manage the situation hurt others.

They vowed to overhaul the fan club’s operations, improve comment moderation, and implement stricter community guidelines to avoid similar issues in the future. "I am ashamed and sorry that I realized this too late through public disclosure. I promise to be more proactive in correction and the way this fan club is operated," they said.

The incident has stirred a major public reaction, with many netizens expressing shock at the tone and nature of the comments. Screenshots of some of the most malicious posts have continued circulating on social media, drawing criticism from fans of NewJeans and neutral observers alike. Many commenters online voiced support for the idea of ADOR pursuing legal action, arguing that targeted harassment and character defamation should not go unpunished, especially in such a high-profile industry.

As of now, neither ADOR nor CEO Ju Young Kim has issued an official response to the apology or the calls for legal intervention. However, given the scope of the backlash and the public nature of the issue, many are anticipating a statement from the label shortly.

Source: https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertain...pts-legal-risk-over-malicious-remarks-1382228

 

[RandAlThor]

'Ashamed and sorry': NewJeans fan club publicly apologizes to ADOR CEO Kim Ju Young; accepts legal risk over malicious remarks

NewJeans fan club issues public apology to ADOR CEO Ju Young Kim after malicious comments spark a backlash, pledging reform and accepting legal responsibility. Read more here!

The fan club of NewJeans (NJZ), has issued a detailed public apology to ADOR CEO Ju Young Kim after a string of malicious and defamatory comments made by members of the fan community went viral across online platforms. The incident has sparked a wave of controversy within the K-pop community and raised broader questions about fan accountability, cyberbullying, and the responsibilities of organized fan clubs.

The apology comes in the wake of a post shared on a Korean online community, where screenshots of hurtful comments made by club members were compiled and exposed. The remarks targeted CEO Ju Young Kim with harsh insults, crude language, and baseless speculations. Some comments went so far as to link her negatively to Bang Si Hyuk, the founder of HYBE Labels, further escalating the issue and inviting potential legal consequences.

In response, the NJZ's fan club issued a comprehensive statement, taking full responsibility for the situation and expressing regret over their delayed response. The statement acknowledged the gravity of the comments and the failure of fan club administrators to monitor and manage the conversation within their community.

As quoted by Koreaboo, “We feel responsible for the serious insults and malicious comments regarding ADOR’s CEO, Ju Young Kim, and apologize for what occurred in our fan club. The offensive comments made by our members in the fan club cannot be forgiven with any excuse. We also deeply regret that there were no edits or corrections to the comments made,” the fan club wrote.

The fan club clarified that they are aware of the potential legal ramifications of the comments made on their platform and expressed, “We sincerely apologize to ADOR’s CEO, as it is unacceptable to insult someone with crude and excessive comments. We recognize that we are not free from legal issues, including the notices on the fan cafe. We will accept all responses in this regard.”

The apology also extended personal accountability from the fan club’s leadership, acknowledging that their delay in realizing the severity of the situation made the issue worse. The operator of the fan club admitted that during the height of media scrutiny and the ongoing national audits involving ADOR, they were overwhelmed and inexperienced, as it was their first time facing such intense circumstances. This distraction, they acknowledged, caused them to overlook how their inaction and failure to manage the situation hurt others.

They vowed to overhaul the fan club’s operations, improve comment moderation, and implement stricter community guidelines to avoid similar issues in the future. "I am ashamed and sorry that I realized this too late through public disclosure. I promise to be more proactive in correction and the way this fan club is operated," they said.

The incident has stirred a major public reaction, with many netizens expressing shock at the tone and nature of the comments. Screenshots of some of the most malicious posts have continued circulating on social media, drawing criticism from fans of NewJeans and neutral observers alike. Many commenters online voiced support for the idea of ADOR pursuing legal action, arguing that targeted harassment and character defamation should not go unpunished, especially in such a high-profile industry.

As of now, neither ADOR nor CEO Ju Young Kim has issued an official response to the apology or the calls for legal intervention. However, given the scope of the backlash and the public nature of the issue, many are anticipating a statement from the label shortly.

Source: https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertain...pts-legal-risk-over-malicious-remarks-1382228

The crazy never stops spreading.
its like the nut jobs burning Tesla's or governors homes.

 

[Selfmate]

The crazy never stops spreading.
its like the nut jobs burning Tesla's or governors homes.

I've always said that there are bad apples in every bunch
not every tokki is like that and I would say most tokkis are reasonable normal people who just want to see NJ succeed but do not resort to crazy antics

the silent majority is often drowned out by the vocal minority

 

[Selfmate]

Sharp clash over KakaoTalk evidence in Min Hee Jin vs. Source Music lawsuit

In the second hearing of the lawsuit filed by Source Music against former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin, the court witnessed a fierce confrontation regarding the disputed KakaoTalk messages used as evidence.

The 12th Civil Division (B) of the Seoul Western District Court held the second hearing on May 30 for Source Music’s claim seeking approximately 500 million KRW (approximately $375,000) in damages from Min Hee Jin. Both parties’ legal teams were present in court.

The judge initially expressed concerns over proceeding with a closed session on the KakaoTalk evidence requested by Min Hee Jin’s side, stating, “It is difficult to consider criminal punishment, and if the evidence violates confidentiality, it cannot be accepted.” However, the court also acknowledged that it could not entirely block Source Music’s claims and sought to move forward with the hearing.

Source Music attempted to present a 20-minute PowerPoint to explain the case details, but Min Hee Jin’s team objected, arguing that the KakaoTalk messages were illegally obtained and should not be admitted as evidence.

In response, Source Music asserted, “This evidence is not newly revealed. There is no Supreme Court ruling on the illegality of such evidence in civil trials. It is questionable to raise this issue right before the hearing. Correspondence via email is also not excluded as private. The data was collected with prior consent and is different from evidence obtained by secretly taking mobile phones.” Nonetheless, they affirmed their position that “illegally obtained evidence should not be allowed and will be dismissed if illegality is proven.”

Despite the dispute, Source Music insisted on the matter being addressed. The court decided to postpone further proceedings until a decision on the admissibility of the evidence is made. Both parties agreed to this, and the next hearing was scheduled for June 27.

Source Music filed the lawsuit against Min Hee Jin in July 2024, seeking compensation related to damages they allege arose from Min Hee Jin’s claims about the debut of the girl group NewJeans.

Min Hee Jin previously held a press conference criticizing Source Music for neglecting some NewJeans members formerly under their label and questioned why LE SSERAFIM debuted before NewJeans.

Source Music strongly denied Min Hee Jin’s allegations, stating, “Min Hee Jin’s claims that Source Music copied her launch strategy are false. Source Music has never copied the launch strategy proposed by Min Hee Jin when she was CBO, nor have we acknowledged her complaints.”

Source Music further clarified, “Chairman Bang Si Hyuk’s suggestion in May 2020 regarding Min Hee Jin’s launch plan was to realize it through a ‘new team’ at a label founded by Min, not the N team. Min Hee Jin is well aware of the discussions but distorts facts by implying the chairman instructed the N team to implement her strategy.”

The company added, “Min Hee Jin continues to spread false information about Source Music. Beyond the ongoing damages lawsuit, we will take strong legal action regarding these falsehoods and are willing to disclose relevant evidence we possess to clarify the truth.”

Source: https://www.allkpop.com/article/202...idence-in-min-hee-jin-vs-source-music-lawsuit

 

[Selfmate]

Court orders NewJeans members to pay ADOR $725,600 for every independent entertainment activity

A court has imposed a stricter ban on the five members of the girl group NewJeans. Now they will be required to pay 1 billion won ($725,600) to their agency ADOR for every rogue activity they hold outside the company.

The Seoul Central District Court on Friday ruled in favor of ADOR, saying that it is illegal for the five singers — Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein — to carry out activities independent from the agency.

The court ordered indirect enforcement on the five singers, meaning that they will be fined if they do not comply with the ruling. As the fine applies to each person, if all members pursue prohibited activities, they will be required to pay a total of 5 billion won.

The court maintained that the members are not allowed to engage in entertainment activities independently or through a third party without prior approval or consent from ADOR until the lawsuit over the validity of the singers' exclusive contracts with ADOR is finished.

Friday's decision pointed out that the five singers had violated the earlier court order to return to ADOR and saw "there is a possibility of future violations" as well.

The court said that the decision was based on two factors: that the five NewJeans members declared their intent to terminate their exclusive contracts with ADOR in November last year and undergo entertainment activities independently, and that the group performed at the ComplexCon Hong Kong festival last March under a new name, NJZ, and released a new song titled "Pit Stop."

After the Hong Kong performance, ADOR decided to request indirect enforcement.

ADOR filed a suit to determine the validity of their contracts on Dec. 3 last year, citing that "a unilateral claim that trust has been broken does not justify grounds for termination." On Jan. 6, the agency filed a motion for an injunction blocking the five members from carrying out independent activities.

The second hearing of the lawsuit over the validity of the exclusive contract is scheduled for June 5.

Source: https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.co...ry-independent-entertainment-activity/2319746

 

[Selfmate]

The independent activities of New Jeans without doors have become impossible.

The independent activities of New Jeans without doors have become impossible.

According to the legal community on the 30th, the 52nd Civil Affairs Department of the Seoul Central District Court ruled that "the debtor Newzins should not engage in entertainment activities independently or through a third party without prior approval or consent from the creditor, Ador, until the first judgment of the lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract."

The court explained, "Since Newzins violated the obligations set in the provisional decision by performing under the new group name and releasing new songs before and after the provisional decision, it is necessary to order 'indirect coercion' (enforced enforcement) of Newzins to enforce the fulfillment of the obligations."

He added, "If debtors violate this obligation from the date they are served with this copy of the decision, pay 1 billion won each to creditors for each violation." The court served the original copy of the indirect compulsory decision to the creditor and the debtor's agent.

Indirect coercion is a kind of fine imposed if a court decision is not implemented. The court decides that each person should be compensated 1 billion won, and if the five members work together as independents, they have to pay 5 billion won to Adore.

As a result, it is expected that Newzins' independent activities will be virtually impossible. Here, independent activities refer to activities through readers or third parties that are not affiliated with Audor.

Newzins held an emergency press conference in November last year and announced the termination of its exclusive contract to Adore and began drawing its own activities. At the same time, he announced a new group name, 'NJZ'.

In response, Adore filed an injunction with the court to preserve the agency's status and prohibit the conclusion of an advertising contract. The court decided to cite the matter in March. The court ruled that Newzins members should not engage in entertainment activities on their own or through third parties without prior approval or consent from Adore.

Nevertheless, when the members showed signs of continuing their independent activities, such as going to a Hong Kong concert under the new name NJZ, Odor applied for indirect coercion.

In this regard, the court violated the provisional injunction decision and judged that there was a possibility of violation in the future. In addition, the indirect compulsory amount of 1 billion won per person was decided in consideration of the violation of Newzins' provisional disposition obligations, the damages of Adore, and the interests of Newzins.

Newzins had been running an SNS account named after the NJZ, but he deleted the name according to the court's judgment and set up a new account name by combining the initials of the members. The members are only communicating with the fans about their current situation without any activities.

Source: https://www.mk.co.kr/en/society/11331092

 

[Selfmate]

Min Hee-jin’s Side Blocks Source Music Presentation, Demands Closed Hearing Over Disputed KakaoTalk Evidence

The legal clash between former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and HYBE’s subsidiary Source Music intensified as Min’s legal team challenged the admissibility of controversial KakaoTalk messages during a court hearing on May 30.

The 12th Civil Division of the Seoul Western District Court held the second hearing in Source Music’s ₩500 million KRW (~$363,000 USD) damages lawsuit against Min. The proceeding saw only the legal representatives from both parties in attendance.

Source Music had planned a 20-minute presentation, but moments before it began, Min Hee-jin’s team objected, stating that the KakaoTalk messages included in the materials had been illegally obtained and should not be admitted as evidence. They also formally requested that the trial be conducted behind closed doors.

The court acknowledged the objection, stating:

“The defendant has expressed concern that some of the evidence was obtained through actions potentially subject to criminal penalties, and therefore requested a closed hearing.”

While Source Music contested the objection, the judge made a temporary ruling:

“We will proceed with a public hearing, but will restrict any discussion or display of the specific KakaoTalk excerpts the defendant contests until further review.”

Min’s team explained their core concern, “What worries us most is that the presentation may contain message excerpts related to the disputed incident.”

In response, the judge gave Source Music the option to revise and reschedule the presentation. Source Music pushed back, “This same evidence was used in another case without issue. The objection comes too late, and delaying now is unfair.”

TopicsMin Hee-jin’s Side Blocks Source Music Presentation, Demands Closed Hearing Over Disputed KakaoTalk EvidencePublished 3 hours ago on 30th May 2025By SKJ Reporter
The legal clash between former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and HYBE’s subsidiary Source Music intensified as Min’s legal team challenged the admissibility of controversial KakaoTalk messages during a court hearing on May 30.

The 12th Civil Division of the Seoul Western District Court held the second hearing in Source Music’s ₩500 million KRW (~$363,000 USD) damages lawsuit against Min. The proceeding saw only the legal representatives from both parties in attendance.

Source Music had planned a 20-minute presentation, but moments before it began, Min Hee-jin’s team objected, stating that the KakaoTalk messages included in the materials had been illegally obtained and should not be admitted as evidence. They also formally requested that the trial be conducted behind closed doors.

The court acknowledged the objection, stating:

“The defendant has expressed concern that some of the evidence was obtained through actions potentially subject to criminal penalties, and therefore requested a closed hearing.”

While Source Music contested the objection, the judge made a temporary ruling:

“We will proceed with a public hearing, but will restrict any discussion or display of the specific KakaoTalk excerpts the defendant contests until further review.”

min hee jin
Min’s team explained their core concern, “What worries us most is that the presentation may contain message excerpts related to the disputed incident.”

In response, the judge gave Source Music the option to revise and reschedule the presentation. Source Music pushed back, “This same evidence was used in another case without issue. The objection comes too late, and delaying now is unfair.”

min hee jin
The central legal debate hinges on how the KakaoTalk messages were acquired. While Min Hee-jin’s side argues they may have been extracted illegally, Source Music maintains, “These messages were accessed via company devices with prior consent. This is not a case of private phone hacking.”

The court has scheduled a separate hearing on June 27 to specifically determine whether the KakaoTalk evidence is legally admissible, a decision that could significantly impact the broader lawsuit.

Source: https://skjbollywoodnews.com/min-he...over-disputed-kakaotalk-evidence/145983/2025/

 

[RandAlThor]

Can they loose any harder?

 

[catonkatonk]

This sucks.

 

[Selfmate]

Can they loose any harder?

MHJ? technically it's not a loss since they are going back on the 27th
the issue with NJ themselves is understandable that they are merely putting a figure on possible future breaches

 

[RandAlThor]

MHJ? technically it's not a loss since they are going back on the 27th
the issue with NJ themselves is understandable that they are merely putting a figure on possible future breaches

True but it would not have happened if they had not flaunted breaking the ruling.

 

[Selfmate]

True but it would not have happened if they had not flaunted breaking the ruling.

well today is D-day
(well we have a lot of D-days don't we lol)

 

[Selfmate]

NJZ (NewJeans) Stands Firm In Lawsuit Against ADOR

They will not back down.

On June 5, the 41st Civil Agreement Division of the Seoul Central District Court held the second oral argument on the lawsuit filed by ADOR against the members of NJZ (NewJeans) regarding the validity of the exclusive contract.

During the final stage of the argument, the court asked if they had any intention of reaching an agreement.

Do you have any intention of reaching an agreement? The defendant said no last time, but from the court’s perspective, it is regrettable, and the court would like to recommend it.

— Court

To this, NJZ stood firm in their position.

The trust in the relationship has already been broken, so we have crossed the bridge of no return. We will have to consult with our clients again, but it won’t be easy.

— NJZ’s legal representative

On the other hand, ADOR stated, “Whether it is the main case of the provisional disposition, if the court makes a decision, we think it will be easy to reach an agreement afterwards.”

Meanwhile, the third trial date is July 24 at 4 PM KST.

Previously, the court announced they must pay ADOR a fee in damages per violation. They added that NJZ will have to bear the legal costs of the application.

Source: https://www.koreaboo.com/news/njz-newjeans-second-oral-argument-update/

 

[Selfmate]

NewJeans Rejects Settlement with ADOR in Court, Legal Battle Deepens

NewJeans firmly denies possibility of reconciliation with ADOR during second court hearing on June 4, escalating legal battle over exclusive contract.

The rift between K-pop group NewJeans and their agency ADOR shows no signs of healing, as the group has firmly rejected any possibility of a settlement during their second court hearing on June 5.

Held at the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Agreement Division 41, the hearing addressed the ongoing lawsuit filed by ADOR, seeking validation of NewJeans‘ exclusive contract. Although the members were not present, their legal representatives conveyed a resolute stance.

When asked by the presiding judge whether a settlement was possible, NewJeans‘ legal team responded bluntly: “The relationship of trust has completely collapsed. It’s like crossing a river of no return. While we will consult with our clients, a settlement is highly unlikely.”

NewJeans’ legal team submitted 15 requests for clarification to ADOR. The court accepted three of them, which include:

Whether ADOR’s board delegated contract terms, excluding duration, financial terms, and the involved parties, to former CEO Min Hee-jin;

Whether ADOR discussed or explained the potential impact on NewJeans before or during Min Hee-jin’s dismissal;
Whether the board took proactive steps in addressing allegations of another group copying NewJeans’ concept.
The court dismissed other requests, such as those relating to alleged media manipulation, stating they were “emotionally charged” and not objective. It also declined to compel disclosure about ADOR’s board composition, citing it as a matter of “management rights.”

NewJeans’ side criticized ADOR’s responses, saying, “Their claims of full disclosure are unsubstantiated. The submitted documents only include producer schedules and a basic list. If Hitchhiker (producer) met with them, they must explain what was discussed and agreed upon.”

In contrast, ADOR maintained a more conciliatory tone, stating that they remained open to resolving the matter “once the court reaches a conclusion.”

A separate dispute also emerged over ADOR’s request to submit records from a Source Music lawsuit against Min Hee-jin. NewJeans’ team opposed, arguing that some of the evidence was illegally obtained and deemed inadmissible by another court. ADOR countered by saying all data was collected with consent and belongs to the company.

The judge concluded, “Just because records are submitted doesn’t mean they’re automatically accepted as evidence. Once they are selected and submitted, we’ll address them then.”

The dispute dates back to November 2024, when NewJeans declared their intent to terminate their contract with ADOR and parent company HYBE, citing a complete breakdown of trust. ADOR responded by filing a lawsuit and successfully securing an injunction that prohibits NewJeans from engaging in any independent promotions or advertising deals.

To further enforce the injunction, the court approved indirect compulsory execution, imposing a fine of ₩1 billion KRW (approx. $735,000 USD) per member for any breach — a staggering ₩5 billion KRW in total.

The legal showdown is far from over. The third hearing is scheduled for July 24, 2025, where both sides are expected to continue their battle over one of K-pop’s most closely watched disputes.

Source: https://kbizoom.com/newjeans-ador-lawsuit-settlement/

 

[Selfmate]

'Trust has been irrevocably broken': NewJeans shoots down settlement with ADOR in second court hearing

Members of K-pop girl group NewJeans and its agency, ADOR, continued their legal battle over the validity of the singers' exclusive contract at the Seoul Central District Court on Thursday.

The members did not appear in court for the second hearing in the case. ADOR had filed a lawsuit seeking to confirm the validity of its exclusive contract with NewJeans.

The court again asked both parties if a settlement was possible. A lawyer representing NewJeans replied, “Trust has been irrevocably broken — we’ve crossed a point of no return. I’ll need to discuss it with my clients, but a settlement is unlikely.”

ADOR maintained its position that it would wait for the court’s ruling before considering any agreement. “Whether it's the main case or the injunction, we believe a court decision will make settlement easier afterward,” the agency said.

ADOR submitted evidence and written statements to the court claiming that it made efforts to ensure the members’ activities continued smoothly even after its leadership changed and that the agency continued providing management services after former CEO Min Hee-jin stepped down.

NewJeans' side countered, “The submitted evidence is insufficient. Management obligations are not fulfilled by simply compiling a list of available producers — anyone can do that. That’s not why [the singers] signed an exclusive contract.”

The two sides also clashed over ADOR’s request to obtain records from a separate damages suit filed by Source Music — the agency behind girl group Le Sserafim — against Min.

ADOR rejected the allegation, stating, “The computer belongs to the company, and the files were shared with full consent, so they cannot be considered illegally collected.”

The court scheduled the next hearing for July 24 to continue reviewing arguments from both sides.

NewJeans began independent activities last November, claiming its contract with ADOR was nullified due to the agency’s breach of contract. In response, ADOR sued to prevent the members from signing advertising deals and to preserve its status as the group's management agency. The court issued an injunction in March blocking the group from carrying out independent activities. The members appealed, but the court rejected their objection. The singers have since filed a further appeal and are awaiting a decision from the appeals court.

Separately, on May 29, the court imposed a contempt sanction ordering that if the members engage in independent activities without ADOR’s prior approval, they must each pay the agency 1 billion won ($735,900) per violation per member.

Source: https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.co...ent-with-ADOR-in-second-court-hearing/2323753

 

[Selfmate]

NewJeans and ADOR clash in court over trust issues and contract validity

On the 5th, ADOR, a music agency under HYBE, and the girl group NewJeans continued their legal battle in court. The NewJeans side rejected the possibility of an agreement, stating that their trust relationship with ADOR has broken down, while ADOR also expressed that they would wait for the court's conclusion.

The Civil Division 41 of the Seoul Central District Court (Director General Jung Hoe-il) held the second argument of the validity confirmation lawsuit filed by ADOR against the five members of NewJeans on the morning of the same day. The NewJeans members did not appear in court that day.

The court repeatedly asked both parties about their willingness to reach a settlement, but the NewJeans representative noted, "The trust relationship has already broken down, and we have crossed the river we cannot return from. I will have to consult with my clients, but it will not be easy." ADOR responded that "whether it is the main case or an injunction, we believe that once the court makes a decision, a settlement can be reached easily afterwards," and conveyed their position of wanting to wait for the court's judgment.

The ADOR side submitted evidence and statements to the court, intending to show that they provided management to ensure NewJeans' activities were not hindered even after changing representatives. In response, the NewJeans side argued, "The evidence provided by ADOR is quite insufficient, and management obligations cannot just be fulfilled by putting together a list of replaceable producers. Anyone can do that. We did not enter into an exclusive contract to receive such management. "

Meanwhile, the ADOR side requested the court to secure documents related to the damage compensation lawsuit currently ongoing between the former representative Min and the label Source Music under HYBE at the Seoul Western District Court. Source Music, the agency of the girl group Le Sserafim, filed a lawsuit asserting that claims made by former representative Min during his conflict with HYBE were false.

In response, the NewJeans side stated, "We submitted an opinion requesting that the evidence being claimed as illegally obtained not be accepted in the Western District Court," adding, "The possibility of illegally obtained evidence is high, so that part should be organized first."

On the other hand, the ADOR side argued, "The computer obviously belongs to the company, and the files were agreed upon by all providers, so they cannot be considered illegally obtained evidence."

The court decided to hold an additional argument on the 24th of next month to hear both sides' opinions. NewJeans claimed that their contract was terminated due to a breach of contract by ADOR in November of last year as they began independent activities. In response, ADOR filed a lawsuit for the confirmation of the validity of the contract, stating that the contract with NewJeans is still valid, and they also applied for an injunction to prevent the members from engaging in independent activities.

In the injunction case, the court ruled last March that "it has not been proven that ADOR violated important obligations under the exclusive contract, leading to a reason for contract termination, or that the trust relationship between the parties, which is the foundation of the contract, has broken down irreparably," ruling in favor of ADOR.

The NewJeans members have filed an objection against the injunction application, but when it was not accepted, they immediately appealed and are awaiting the high court's ruling.

Meanwhile, on the 29th of last month, the court accepted ADOR's request for indirect enforcement against NewJeans, ruling that if NewJeans engaged in independent activities without ADOR's prior approval, each member would be required to pay 1 billion won to ADOR for each violation.

Source: https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-society/2025/06/05/OEWIYK3XQRCV3BHTDFXQQAE64A/

 

[RandAlThor]

The court said settle, the kids say no. the court says no really you should settle......

 

[Selfmate]

The court said settle, the kids say no. the court says no really you should settle......

I think the court is trying to exhaust all possibilities before judgment
I remember reading somewhere that like 95% of the cases settle out of court prior to the actual case since by the time a trial starts both parties (or their lawyers) are fairly confident of their sides chances of winning

 

[Abeamus]

I think the court is trying to exhaust all possibilities before judgment
I remember reading somewhere that like 95% of the cases settle out of court prior to the actual case since by the time a trial starts both parties (or their lawyers) are fairly confident of their sides chances of winning

There's definitely an element of that but I also think their age is playing a part in the judge trying to protect them to a degree like the judge seems to be probing them on Min Heejin misleading them and then suggesting they at least explore the possibility of settling as if they conclude Ador is in the right there won't be any protecting them in the final verdict