Court sides with Ador, blocks independent activities of NewJeans

Members of NewJeans, also known as NJZ, pose in front of reporters after the first injunction hearing at Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, March 7. On Friday, the court ruled in favor of Ador’s request for an injunction, blocking the band from engaging in independent activities. Yonhap

The legal battle between K-pop group NewJeans, now rebranded as NJZ, and their agency Ador has taken a turn, with the court ruling in favor of the agency, effectively blocking the group’s attempts to pursue independent activities.

On Friday, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of Ador, granting the agency the right to maintain its position as NewJeans’ management agency, prohibiting the group from engaging in any entertainment activities without Ador’s approval. The activities include musical performances, broadcasting appearances and advertising deals.

The decision came after Ador filed an injunction to prevent NewJeans, who call themselves NJZ, from pursuing activities outside their exclusive contract.

The court also dismissed the band members' claims of contract breaches by Ador, stating that the agency had fulfilled most of its obligations under the contract.

"Based on the claims and materials submitted by Kim Min-ji, (whose stage name is Minji), and others, it is not sufficiently proven that Ador violated its important obligations under the exclusive contract,” the court stated.

Since last year, NewJeans members have been in a legal tussle as the K-pop group demanded the termination of their exclusive contract with Ador in November, claiming that HYBE, the parent company of Ador, which had a duty to protect its artists, had neither the will nor the ability to protect them.

Despite the unfavorable ruling, the members issued a statement expressing their respect for the court's decision, while also highlighting their disappointment.

"We believe this decision did not fully consider the complete breakdown of trust between the members and Ador," they said. They further claimed that they were not given ample opportunity to present their case due to the expedited nature of the proceedings.

The K-pop group also announced their intention to file an objection to the injunction and continue their legal battle to prove the validity of their contract termination.

“We will clarify that the contract (with Ador) was legally terminated at the scheduled hearing on April 3,” they said.

Despite the ongoing legal turmoil, the band added it will participate in the upcoming ComplexCon concert, which will be held in Hong Kong, to minimize any harm to their fans and related parties.

Following the court's decision, Ador expressed its gratitude for the "wise judgment."

It affirmed its commitment to supporting NewJeans as the group's agency and pledged to provide full support for the upcoming ComplexCon event.

"Ador has legally confirmed its status as NewJeans' agency, and will fulfill its responsibilities in supporting the artists going forward," the company said.