This latest decision reaffirms an earlier injunction granted in March by the Seoul Central District Court, which recognized ADOR’s exclusive management rights over the five-member group. NewJeans had argued for the right to pursue activities on their own, but the courts have now sided with ADOR not once, but twice.
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The roots of this legal battle go back to November 2024, when the members of NewJeans declared that their contracts were terminated, citing a complete breakdown of trust. They have since attempted to operate independently under the name NJZ, a move ADOR strongly opposed. In January, the company filed for an injunction to stop those activities, which the courts upheld.
After losing their initial objection in April, the members brought the case to the High Court, only to be met with the same outcome. On top of that, the court ruled in May that each member would be fined 1 billion won, approximately 733,000 US dollars, for every entertainment activity they conduct without ADOR’s consent.
While this ruling marks another win for ADOR, the company is extending what seems like an olive branch. In a public statement released the day after the decision, ADOR thanked the court and expressed hope that the members would return to the group. They also pointed out that NewJeans’ third debut anniversary is coming up in July and emphasized their commitment to supporting the group’s growth and success.
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NewJeans, however, seem to have made up their minds. During the second hearing of a separate lawsuit focused on the validity of their exclusive contracts, the members stated that the trust between them and ADOR was beyond repair. One of them said, “We have crossed a point of no return,” and added that any reconciliation would be extremely difficult.
As this high-profile conflict unfolds, fans are left watching closely. NewJeans burst onto the kpop scene in 2022 and quickly became one of the genre’s standout acts, known for their fresh Y2K-inspired sound and minimalistic aesthetic. But instead of gearing up for an anniversary celebration, the group now finds itself navigating legal roadblocks and public uncertainty.
For now, ADOR remains in legal control, and NewJeans are legally prohibited from striking out on their own. Whether the group will return, rebrand completely, or continue the legal fight remains unclear. One thing is certain: this is one of the most dramatic and closely followed contract disputes kpop has seen in years.
