NewJeans emphasizes breakdown in trust at Ador’s 1st injunction hearing request
Members of K-pop band NewJeans (NJZ) speak to reporters after the first injunction hearing at Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
The tug of war between NewJeans and the entertainment agency Ador intensified during the first hearing on Friday for HYBE’s sublabel's injunction request against the girl group, with the group emphasizing the breakdown in trust between the artist and the agency.
Last December, Ador filed a lawsuit seeking a ruling on the validity of its exclusive contract with the group after the girl group announced the termination of the contract during a press conference the previous month. When the group continued to act independently, rebranding itself as NJZ, the agency filed an injunction in January to prevent the group from pursuing activities on its own.
During the first hearing at Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, Seoul, NewJeans' legal counsel cited a breakdown in trust toward Ador as the main reason for the contract termination, claiming that HYBE had mistreated them compared to other groups.
"HYBE's extensive media play, abandoning NewJeans to start fresh, ILLIT’s plagiarism controversy, and destroying the cooperative relationship with Dolphiners Films all happened from 2023 to 2024. Among HYBE's label artists, no one except the defendant experienced such treatment,” it said.
"The essence of this case is that HYBE and the plaintiff continuously discriminated against and excluded the defendant, trying to replace and discard them with another group.”
The legal counsel mentioned HYBE breaking its promise to debut the group as its first girl group.
“After the debut evaluation ended in March 2021, they neglected the defendant until September 2021. during that time, Source Music debuted LE SSERAFIM first. There was no explanation,” the statement said, also noting that member Hanni was removed from her brand ambassador role, and the position was given to LE SSERAFIM.
“When we checked with the brand, we received an apology, with them saying HYBE had suggested (LE SSERAFIM), and they thought HYBE had naturally sought understanding from our side."
All five members of NewJeans attended the court in person, dressed in black, making a notable appearance despite having no obligation to be there.
"The current Ador, which claims that all the unfairness and discrimination I felt were misunderstandings and could be restored if we returned, only deepens our wounds ... We ask the court to understand our feelings," Minji said to reporters after the hearing.
Ador argued that NewJeans' success was due to parent company HYBE's full support.
"Ador received a total investment of 21 billion won ($14.5 million) from HYBE in two rounds (for NewJeans’ debut). This is unprecedented for an investment in a single group. With this investment, Ador developed a separate fan platform exclusively for NewJeans, and 10 billion won was invested in debut album production and marketing alone,” the agency’s legal counsel said, adding the group had the privilege of using HYBE artist BTS’ fame as PR.
"NewJeans appeared in BTS's music video before their debut … It was introduced as 'BTS' sisters' from the beginning, and at former CEO Min Hee-jin's request, they were promoted as ‘BTS' succeeding group.’ Using another group's recognition for PR was the only such case at HYBE at that time.”
Regarding NewJeans members' unilateral termination of their exclusive contract, the agency noted the group’s argument is invalid.
"Their reason is 'HYBE hates the defendant and discriminates against them.' Issues that are typically disputed in other exclusive contract termination cases — unfair contracts, settlement issues and lack of entertainment activity bookings — are not even mentioned,” it said.
"The important obligations of an exclusive contract are to provide opportunities for entertainment activities and to settle profits, which Ador fulfilled well. Each NewJeans member received 5 billion won in profit sharing."