A Seoul court has ruled in favor of entertainment label ADOR in its legal dispute with K-pop girl group NewJeans, confirming that the group’s exclusive contract with the company remains valid.
On Thursday, Oct. 30, the Seoul Central District Court’s 41st Civil Agreement Division, led by Judge Jeong Hoe-il, announced the decision nearly a year after the case began.
“It is confirmed that the exclusive contract concluded between ADOR and NewJeans is valid,” the court said, according to Korean media outlet Korea Herald.
The court also ruled that ADOR did not violate the agreement by firing former CEO Min Hee-jin, saying her actions were intended to push for the group’s independence rather than to protect it.
The dispute began in November 2024, when NewJeans accused ADOR of breaching their contract and announced plans to continue under a new name, NJZ. ADOR later filed a lawsuit and sought an injunction, which temporarily halted the group’s independent and solo activities.
With the latest ruling, ADOR remains NewJeans’ official management company.
Debuted in 2022, New Jeans was formed under HYBE’s sub-label ADOR, composed of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein.
