The legal battle between K-pop stars NewJeans and their label ADOR has taken a new turn. During a hearing at Seoul Central District Court on July 24, both sides showed up to argue over whether the group’s exclusive contracts are still valid.
A mediation session has now been scheduled for August 14—offering hope for a resolution. But NewJeans has made it clear that their return depends on one key condition.
According to the group’s legal team, the members are open to going back to ADOR, but only if things are restored to how they were before April 2024. That’s when HYBE, ADOR’s parent company, launched an audit against CEO Min Hee-Jin, accusing her of trying to take over the label and the group.
“It’s not that [the members] completely refuse to return,” NewJeans’ legal team said. “If ADOR can go back to the way it was before the audit, they’re willing to continue under the label. If not, they want the contracts ended.”
The group’s lawyers say there was no real evidence behind the audit or the dismissal attempts. Police also found no wrongdoing by Min Hee-Jin. “This all started with false claims, and NewJeans were the ones who suffered most,” they added.
As the mediation date approaches, fans are watching closely. Will ADOR return to its original form and welcome NewJeans back? Or will this legal fight lead to the group’s departure?
