By Miguel Luna 
(and what it means for the group’s future)
On October 30, 2025, the Civil Division No. 41 of the Seoul Central District Court delivered a key ruling in the legal dispute between girl group NewJeans and their agency ADOR.
The presiding judge concluded that the exclusive contract signed on April 21, 2022 between the agency and members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein remains legally valid.
Key facts
- In November 2024, NewJeans announced the termination of their contract with ADOR, citing a “breach of trust” and management changes following the departure of former CEO Min Hee-Jin.
- ADOR responded by filing a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the contract and requested injunctions preventing the members from conducting independent activities without the agency’s consent.
- In the ruling, the court stated: “It is difficult to consider that the defendants (NewJeans) are being forced to engage in entertainment activities under the exclusive contract against their free will,”
and added that “the exclusive contract remains valid and ADOR maintains its position as NewJeans’ management agency under that contract.” - The court also ordered that the five members must bear the litigation costs.
- Earlier rulings had already barred the members from carrying out independent activities without ADOR’s approval and set a penalty of ₩1 billion KRW (≈ $730,000 USD) per member for each unauthorized activity.
Why the court ruled this way
According to reports:
- ADOR invested over ₩21 billion KRW (≈ $15 million USD) in NewJeans’ debut and rise, achieving major success in charts and branding.
- The judge ruled that the dismissal of Min Hee-Jin did not in itself constitute a breach of contract, noting that “trusting her as director was not part of the contractual terms.”
What this means for NewJeans and their fans
- In practice, the group cannot unilaterally void the contract under this first-instance ruling.
- Any independent activities without ADOR’s consent could result in significant financial penalties, plus the obligation to cover legal fees.
- While the contract remains valid, this does not guarantee that the members wish to continue under ADOR’s management. Their legal representatives stated that “although they respect the court’s decision, it is impossible to return to ADOR and resume normal activities since the relationship of trust has been completely destroyed.”
- For fans, this case highlights the growing tension in K-pop between artist autonomy and agency control.
What comes next
- NewJeans may appeal the decision, as this ruling comes from a lower court.
- ADOR retains full management rights but faces the challenge of rebuilding trust with the members if it wishes to continue the group’s activities.
- More broadly, this case becomes a landmark example of how exclusive contracts in K-pop are interpreted and contested in modern entertainment law.
Conclusion
The ruling marks a turning point in NewJeans’ story. While their contract with ADOR legally stands, the group’s future will depend on both the agency’s approach and the members’ willingness to continue working together. Beyond its legal implications, the case exposes the complex power dynamics behind K-pop’s polished image.evidencia que detrás del brillo de los escenarios se mueven complejas dinámicas contractuales y de poder.