Is this the end of NewJeans’ Independence? Court sides with ADOR in K-pop contract clash
After more than a year of legal disputes, the Seoul Central District Court has ruled against K-pop girl group NewJeans in their case against record label ADOR, upholding their exclusive contract until 2029. The decision, announced on October 30, 2025, concludes a long-running conflict that has drawn global attention to artist-label relationships within South Korea’s entertainment industry.
The five-member group — Minji, Hanni Pham, Danielle Marsh, Kang Haerin, and Lee Hyein — debuted in 2022 under ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE Corporation. They quickly rose to international fame with viral hits such as “Ditto,” “OMG,” and “Super Shy,” each surpassing hundreds of millions of streams on Spotify.
The dispute began in 2024 following internal tensions between ADOR’s then-CEO and NewJeans’ creative director Min Hee-jin and HYBE, ADOR’s parent company. HYBE accused Min of attempting to break away from the label to form her own independent agency — a claim she denied. She was later dismissed from her role in August 2024.
In the months following Min’s removal, NewJeans publicly demanded that HYBE and ADOR reinstate her. Although Min was briefly appointed as internal director, she resigned a month later. During this period, members of the group voiced allegations of mistreatment and manipulation, including claims that the label had discouraged Korean journalists from promoting them.
By late 2024, tensions escalated further when NewJeans announced their intent to leave ADOR and HYBE, rebranding themselves as NJZ without company authorization. The court later determined that this move violated their contract, ordering the group to halt all activities under the new name.
In March 2025, a court ruling reinforced ADOR’s authority, stipulating that each member would owe $700,000 in damages if they engaged in entertainment activities without the company’s consent. Shortly afterward, the group announced an indefinite hiatus, citing respect for the court’s decision.
The October 2025 ruling reaffirmed ADOR’s contractual rights and found no evidence that the label had breached its obligations. ADOR stated it would continue managing the group’s affairs, including promotional planning and future music activities.
Following the court decision, ADOR released an official statement confirming that Haerin and Hyein, the group’s youngest members, had chosen to resume activities with the label after discussions with their families. “After thoughtful consideration, the two members decided to respect the court’s ruling and adhere to their exclusive contracts,” ADOR said, requesting that fans avoid speculation regarding the situation.
Meanwhile, the futures of Minji, Hanni, and Danielle remain uncertain, as their legal team, Shin & Kim LLC, indicated that an appeal may still proceed.
Industry analysts noted that the case had a notable financial impact. According to Billboard, HYBE’s market capitalization rose by $1.5 billion, an 18.4% increase, following the favorable ruling — reflecting investor relief after fears of wider repercussions across the K-pop industry.
ADOR told Music Business Worldwide it hopes NewJeans will eventually return to full group activities and that preparations for future projects are ready if reconciliation occurs. However, for now, the group remains on hiatus, and members are expected to focus on individual brand partnerships, including Haerin’s collaboration with Dior and Hyein’s ambassadorship with Louis Vuitton.
The outcome of the ongoing legal developments may determine whether NewJeans reunite as a group or continue to pursue separate artistic paths in the years ahead.
FAQs
1. What was the court’s final decision in the NewJeans case?
The Seoul court ruled that NewJeans’ contract with ADOR remains valid until 2029 and that the label did not breach its obligations.
2. Which members have returned to ADOR?
Haerin and Hyein have chosen to continue working with ADOR following discussions with their families.
3. Are NewJeans planning an appeal?
Their legal team has stated that an appeal remains possible, though no new filing has been confirmed.
4. When did NewJeans last release new music?
Their latest singles, “How Sweet” and “Supernatural,” were released in mid-2024.
5. What impact did the ruling have on HYBE?
HYBE’s market value increased by approximately $1.5 billion, according to Billboard, following the court decision.
