A South Korean court has ruled against the popular K-pop group NewJeans in their attempt to sever ties with their record label, Ador.
The court determined that the group, who had rebranded as NJZ and started organizing their own appearances, must refrain from independent activities—such as making music or signing advertising deals—without Ador's approval.
This legal dispute began when NewJeans announced last year that they were leaving Ador, accusing the label of mistreatment. In response, Ador filed a lawsuit to uphold the group's contracts and accused them of attempting to secure independent deals without the label’s consent. In January, Ador filed an injunction against the band.
NewJeans has stated they plan to challenge Friday’s ruling, which now casts uncertainty over the release of their upcoming song scheduled for Sunday. The decision also creates complications for their plans to re-debut under the new name NJZ, as they could face substantial financial penalties for breaching their contract.
The conflict between NewJeans and Ador has been escalating since August 2024, when Hybe, Ador’s parent company, allegedly forced out the group's mentor, Min Hee-Jin. NewJeans issued an ultimatum demanding Min's return, but when Hybe refused, the group went public with grievances, including claims that the label had undermined their careers. One member, Hanni, also accused the label of workplace harassment.
In November, the group announced their departure from the company, stating that Hybe and Ador had lost the right to represent them. However, Friday’s court ruling stated that NewJeans’ claims were insufficient to prove Ador had violated its duties, emphasizing that the label had largely fulfilled its contractual obligations, including payment.
The court also warned that if NewJeans were to unilaterally terminate their contract or continue activity under their new name, it could cause significant damage to both the group's brand and Ador's reputation.
Despite the ruling, NewJeans expressed respect for the court's decision but argued they were not given adequate opportunity to present their case. They plan to appeal the decision, submitting additional evidence and raising further legal issues in their defense.
A lawsuit concerning the validity of the contract termination remains ongoing. Meanwhile, the group’s five members—Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein—have continued to assert their independence, even creating a new Instagram account, "jeanzforfree." They have expressed their determination to fight for their name and career, insisting they will remain "NewJeans at heart" despite the ongoing legal battle.
NewJeans, once hailed as one of K-pop’s brightest new acts with their mix of 1990s R&B and sugary pop melodies, achieved remarkable success in 2023, becoming the eighth biggest-selling act globally. They were also nominated for Best Group at the MTV Awards last year.
