Seoul, South Korea – March 21, 2025: A South Korean court has ruled against the popular K-pop group NewJeans in their legal battle to terminate their contract with their record label, Ador. The ruling, issued by the Seoul Central District Court on March 21, bars the members from pursuing independent activities, including signing advertising deals and releasing music under their newly adopted name, NJZ.
Court Ruling Against NewJeans
The decision follows the first court hearing, which took place on March 7. Ador had filed injunctions in January and February to prevent the five-member girl group from engaging in solo promotions, arguing that their contracts remained legally binding. In its ruling, the court stated that NewJeans’ claims against Ador did not provide sufficient proof that the label had violated its contractual obligations.
“If NewJeans unilaterally terminate the contract, Ador would suffer greatly. And if NewJeans begins activity under a new name, it could severely damage not only the brand of NewJeans but also the reputation of Ador,” the court’s statement read.
The court also noted that Ador had fulfilled most of its contractual obligations, including payments, and ruled that NewJeans could not proceed with independent promotions.
The ruling raises uncertainty around the release of the K-pop girl group’s new song, which was scheduled for March 24. The K-pop girl group is scheduled to perform at ComplexCon Hong Kong 2025, a global street fashion and pop culture festival, taking place from March 21-23 at the AsiaWorld-Expo convention center. However, it remains to be seen whether they will perform as NJZ or if ADOR will ask them to drop the performance, now that they won the court case on the day of the festival.
Background of the Dispute
The legal battle between NewJeans and Ador traces back to August 2024, when HYBE, the parent company of Ador, allegedly forced out NewJeans’ mentor and Ador’s former CEO, Min Hee-jin. The members protested the move, demanding Min’s reinstatement. When HYBE refused, NewJeans publicly accused the company of mistreatment, including alleged discrimination and deliberate sabotage of their careers.
One of the group’s members, Hanni, also alleged she had suffered workplace harassment while under the label. In November 2024, NewJeans officially announced their departure from Ador, declaring that the agency and its parent company had “lost the right to represent them.”
Ador responded by taking legal action, filing an injunction to uphold NewJeans’ contract and accusing them of breaching their agreements by attempting to sign independent deals. The agency also objected to their rebranding as NJZ and their efforts to continue promoting without its oversight.
Fan Backlash and Industry Reactions
The court ruling has sparked intense reactions across social media, with K-pop fans taking to X to criticize the group. Many users labeled NewJeans as “mean girls,” referencing their previous accusations against other HYBE groups, including BTS, LE SSERAFIM, and ILLIT. Some fans suggested backlash was “karma” for their controversial statements.
One user wrote, “Mean girls getting the karma they deserve.” Another commented, “This is Hanni’s fault. She held back from speaking in court and instead posted on IG. Too bad the judges don’t have Instagram lol.”
Others recalled how the group name-dropped LE SSERAFIM just before their comeback, accusing HYBE of using them as a tool against NewJeans. “Not saying this is karma, but… never lie when you know you’re wrong,” a fan commented.
NewJeans’ Response and Future Plans
Despite the court’s ruling, NewJeans has vowed to challenge the decision. In a statement issued hours after the verdict, the group expressed disappointment and emphasized that they did not have a fair opportunity to present their full case.
“We plan to challenge today’s decision… during which we will raise additional legal issues and submit further supporting evidence,” they stated. “Regardless… we can no longer remain with a management that has disrespected our identities and undermined our achievements.”
The legal dispute over the validity of NewJeans’ contract termination remains ongoing. In the meantime, the five members – Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein – have continued asserting their independence, launching a new Instagram account under the name “jeanz for free.”
They have also insisted they will continue to fight for their name and career, affirming, “We will remain NewJeans at heart.”
NewJeans was considered one of the most promising acts in K-pop, with a unique blend of 1990s R&B and sugar-coated pop melodies. In 2023, they were the eighth best-selling act worldwide and earned a nomination for Best Group at the MTV Awards. However, their ongoing legal battle has put their future at risk, leaving fans uncertain about whether they will be able to continue as a group.
As the legal battle continues, fans and industry insiders will be watching closely to see how this high-stakes K-Pop controversy begins. Keep Reading Questiqa.com for more news.
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