Court Orders NewJeans to Avoid Independent Entertainment Activities Without ADOR, Imposing 1 Billion KRW Penalty per Violation
The ongoing legal battle between K-pop girl group NewJeans and their agency ADOR has taken a significant turn. On May 30, the Seoul Central District Court delivered a ruling that prevents NewJeans from engaging in any independent entertainment activities or signing contracts with third parties without prior approval from ADOR. This ruling is meant to maintain the contract’s current status while the legality of their exclusive deal is in question.
The court’s 52nd Civil Division partially granted ADOR‘s request for an injunction, which prohibits NewJeans from entering into separate advertising agreements. The decision indicates that the group must seek consent from ADOR until a ruling is made regarding the legitimacy of their contract. Moreover, a penalty clause was established, stating that for each infringement of this injunction, NewJeans would face a fine of 1 billion KRW (about $730,000), with the cost of the application also falling on the group.
This ruling follows a previous court decision on March 21, where the court fully accepted ADOR‘s request to bar NewJeans from signing promotional agreements outside the agency. When the members objected to this ruling, the court reaffirmed its stance on April 21, dismissing their objections.
Despite this decision strengthening ADOR‘s position, NewJeans maintains their argument for contract termination, citing a breakdown of trust as a key reason. This suggests that the conflict between the group and their agency may escalate, especially considering the upcoming trials.
A second hearing for the main lawsuit is set for June 5. As developments unfold, both NewJeans and ADOR continue to navigate the complex issues surrounding their exclusive contract, which seems to hang in the balance.
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