NJZ Loses Court Battle Against Ador

Seoul Central District Court has ruled against Newjeans in the legal disputes with ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE. They highlighted the validity of the exclusive contracts with ADOR, effectively saying they can not pursue independent activities under NJZ.

Background on the Case

In late 2024, after the company changed the people in charge, Newjeans attempted to terminate their contracts with ADOR, emphasizing breach of trust, workplace harassment, and the removal of their mentor, Min Heejin. Ador fired back with a lawsuit in December 2024 to say they still had the group's exclusive contracts.

What are the implications of the court decision?

In March 2025, the court sided with ADOR, issuing an injunction that prohibits the members from engaging in independent activities under the NJZ name. They said that Newjeans did not provide sufficient evidence of negligence or breach of contract by ADOR. NewJeans announced an indefinite hiatus during a performance at Complexcon, citing mental strain.

This sparked widespread discussion on the label dynamics with the artist's rights. Many people had differing opinions, as many thought NewJeans needed their contracts; without them, foreign members like Hanni, who is not a Korean citizen, could not stay in the country with her work visa. Others cite how they were restricted and unfairly treated under Hype Entertainment.

As of now, Newjeans is contractually bound to ADOR and can not have future activities under a new name or management.