What do you think about NewJeans being banned from operating freely?

Recently, the Seoul Central District Court officially ruled to uphold the exclusive contract between the music group NewJeans and the entertainment company Ador.

Accordingly, the 5 members of the group including Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein are not allowed to carry out any individual activities or sign any independent advertising contracts without Ador's consent.

Ruling upholds exclusive contract, prevents independent operations

The Seoul Central District Court has approved Ador's emergency request to prevent the members of NewJeans from pursuing individual activities under the new name NJZ. The ruling means that all activities of the five members of the group must be subject to the control and approval of their current management company.

Earlier in November last year, the five members of NewJeans announced their decision to leave Ador after accusing the company of mistreating them and violating the terms of their exclusive contracts. The group also announced last month that they would change their name to NJZ and launch independent artistic activities.

Girls from the NewJeans group. Photo: IG.

Shortly thereafter, in January 2025, Ador, a subsidiary of HYBE Group, filed a lawsuit to request a temporary restraining order to prevent the group from operating independently. The company argued that the members' voluntary departure and launching artistic activities under a new name violated the legal terms of the signed exclusive contract.

The court said: “The statements and evidence provided by the NewJeans group members are not convincing enough to prove that Ador has breached its contractual obligations or seriously damaged the trust between the two parties.” Thus, the departure of the 5 members from Ador has no clear legal basis, and all rights and obligations are still maintained according to the original signed contract.

The uncertain future of NewJeans

In addition to rejecting the group’s request, the Seoul Central District Court also responded to concerns raised by members regarding internal unrest at Ador. Previously, the group claimed that the departure of former CEO Min Hee-jin – considered the creative spirit and main producer of NewJeans – disrupted the company’s operational plans and caused a lack of organizational capacity.

However, the court concluded: “There is insufficient evidence to show that music production was halted after Ms. Min Hee-jin left her executive position at Ador. At the same time, there is no basis to assert that the company lacked plans or capabilities to support the group's artistic activities."

During a hearing, Ador's current CEO Kim Joo-young asserted that the injunction request was not intended to confront the group but to protect its long-term development direction. "Ador filed this urgent request because we want to continue to accompany NewJeans," he said.

As for the members, they believe that the rift in the relationship between Ador and HYBE Group – the parent company – has directly affected the group’s career. The members believe that the company has intentionally undermined their image and asked Ador to reinstate Ms. Min Hee-jin.

Min’s dismissal stemmed from a conflict with HYBE, following a long-standing dispute over creative control and artist management. As the founder of NewJeans and the group’s artistic director, Min was once considered a key figure in helping the group build a distinct image in the K-pop music industry.

With the latest court ruling, the group’s ability to operate independently in the future has been completely closed. Currently, the 5 members have not officially responded to this decision. Korean public opinion is divided, with some audiences expressing support for Ador in complying with the law and keeping their contractual commitments, while others believe that young artists need to be protected and have the right to choose their own path when they feel that the working environment is no longer suitable.

While the group’s future remains uncertain, the Seoul Central District Court’s ruling has affirmed the strict legal binding of exclusive contracts between artists and management companies – a long-standing feature of the Korean entertainment industry. Experts say the NewJeans case could serve as an important precedent for similar disputes in the future, and open up broader discussions about artists’ professional freedom in the modern entertainment market.

Source: https://danviet.vn/thay-gi-tu-viec-newjeans-bi-cam-hoat-dong-tu-do-20250322210325309.htm