NewJeans, ADOR locked in high-stakes legal battle over exclusive contract

Newjeans -members reply to questions from reporters when leaving the central courtroom in Seoul. Picture: Yonhap by way of the Korea Herald

The authorized deadlock between Ok-pop Lady Group Newjeans And their company Ador continues to escalate, the place each events present conflicting arguments in regards to the validity of the group’s unique contract.

The Central Courtroom of Seoul held the third listening to within the lawsuit of Ador on Thursday to verify the enforceability of its contract with the 5 -member group. The Newjeans -members, who tried to unilaterally finish their contracts in November, weren’t current in courtroom; Solely their authorized representatives had been current.

The Newjeans legal professionals attributed the dispute to an inside audit of the previous Ador CEO Min Hee-Jin, which was initiated by guardian firm Hybe in Could 2024. They argued that the audit and subsequent try by Hybe to take away minus had been based mostly on unfounded suspicions. On July 18, the police knew minus legal violation of belief feases submitted by Hybe final 12 months; Hybe is planning to enchantment.

The authorized crew of the group additional claimed that Ador couldn’t meet the duties of elementary administration, claiming that this infringement justified the try of the artists to interrupt the ties justified.

The company rejected the accusations and claimed that the explanations for contract termination have been shifted and corpses in the midst of time to have been constructed by Newjeans and their authorized crew with retroactive impact.

“That is an unreasonable try and make the contracts invalid after the actual fact,” mentioned a lawyer for Ador.

The company emphasised its monetary investments in Newjeans, close to greater than 21 billion ($ 15.3 million) issued on the event and debut of the group. This included 7 billion gained for the debut album of the group and a couple of billion gained for music movies.

“Because of this assist, Newjeans achieved explosive success – one thing that even the courtroom has acknowledged,” mentioned Ador’s authorized consultant.

“However regardless of this, the group tried to unilaterally cancel its contracts solely two years after the debut. Such a step can’t be allowed.”

The label additionally claimed that minus was the driving power behind the tried departure of the group.

In line with the lawyer of the company, personal messages have exchanged between min and former Ador leaders that she was planning to ‘take’ Newjeans in three years in the past. The messages have reportedly outlined methods for terminating the unique contract, together with orchestrating plagiarism accusations in opposition to one other hybe-Geliodde Ladies Group, Illit and Manipulating Media Tales.

The company additionally claimed that the authorized notification to terminate the contract was drawn up by the authorized representatives of Min, which additional factors to its involvement.

In response to accusations of mismanagement, the company claimed that it had confirmed its duties and famous that every member had already gained greater than 5 billion within the revenue.

“The company continues to be making ready for the comeback of the group,” mentioned it. “Our staff watch for the day they return.”