ADOR urges NJZ to 'return to their rightful place as NewJeans' after court ruling
Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein had challenged the decision, but, the Seoul High Court upheld ADOR's legal claim over the group, reaffirming its exclusive rights as the official management agency for the five members.
The girl group NewJeans, who left their agency ADOR - a sub-label under HYBE - and rebranded themselves as NJZ, may have expected a smooth transition. However, their departure from ADOR did not go as planned. They did not pay the penalty for breaching their contract and instead went live to announce they were leaving.
ADOR responded by suing the members, and in a rare move, the court initially ruled in favor of the agency through an injunction. Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein challenged the decision, but, the Seoul High Court upheld ADOR's legal claim over the group, reaffirming its exclusive rights as the official management agency for the five members.
Jeans' Clip # 0?? 1??
¡ª NewJeans (@NewJeans_ADOR) June 17, 2025
? https://t.co/Y9LkYnaWnW#NewJeans #??? #Jeans_Clip#NewJeans_is_Everywhere
Court ruling favours ADOR
On June 17, the Seoul High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the members, siding with a prior decision made by the Seoul Central District Court. The initial ruling granted ADOR an injunction to maintain its exclusive management authority and blocked the members from entering independent endorsement deals without the company's approval.
Under the court's orders, the girls are barred from engaging in any entertainment-related activities - such as overseas performances or releasing music - under the NJZ or NewJeans name without explicit permission from ADOR. If they violate this order, they will have to pay a hefty penalty of 1 billion KRW (approximately $730,000 USD) per infraction.
Billboard's 21 Under 21 ¡ª @NewJeans_ADOR ?
¡ª billboard (@billboard) May 16, 2025
Names: Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, Hyein
Ages: 21, 20, 20, 19, 17
Label: ADOR
Publisher: HYBE/Sony Music Publishing
Management: ADOR
Learn more about Billboard's picks for the most influential young artists in the industry:¡ pic.twitter.com/uVo7KlSKQQ
ADOR responds to verdict
Following the ruling, ADOR released an official statement expressing gratitude for the legal clarity and has also urged the members to reunite as NewJeans.
"Hello, this is ADOR. Yesterday, a decision in the appellate court once again clearly confirmed that ADOR is the agency representing NewJeans. We deeply thank the court for its judgment. We hope that this decision will serve as an opportunity for the members to return to their rightful place as "NewJeans" and resume their activities. As NewJeans approaches their third debut anniversary next month, the company plans to do its utmost to support the group in making a greater leap forward and continuing to grow. Thank you."
Background on the dispute
The members had previously claimed their exclusive contracts with ADOR were nullified in November 2024, citing alleged contractual breaches. Since then, they had begun operating independently, rebranding as NJZ and pursuing separate activities.
ADOR countered with a lawsuit, asserting that the contracts remained valid and that any solo activities without company consent were in violation of those agreements.
With the court ruling now firmly on ADOR¡¯s side, all eyes are on the five girls and whether the members will respond to the agency's renewed invitation to return.
For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Karen Noronha is a versatile journalist with a passion for sports and K-pop. With over 7 years of experience at publications like IBTimes UK, DNA, and OTTPlay/DesiMartini, she seamlessly transitions between covering global athletic events and the dynamic world of K-pop.
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