Court Imposes Severe Penalty On NewJeans Amid Legal Battle With ADOR

Court imposes heavy fine on NewJeans in new ruling amid legal battle with ADOR over contract dispute.

The contract dispute between NewJeans (Now NJZ) and their managing company, ADOR, is far from over. Their matter has gone to the courts, and the judge is now to decide the verdict. The hearing for the case is currently ongoing. On May 30, the 52nd Civil Affairs Department of the Seoul Central District Court ruled that NewJeans must cease all independent activities unless they are done in consultation with ADOR. They further emphasised that any violation of this clause will result in a fine of ₩1 billion KRW (approximately ₹6 crore) per incident.

What Does The Ruling Say

The ruling is one of the harshest fines that has been imposed in a Korean entertainment contract dispute yet. This ruling is the result of the ongoing battle between ADOR and the group. The girl group had rebranded as NJZ and allegedly attempted to continue promotional activities under that name despite a previous court injunction made against it.

In its statement, the court highlighted the seriousness of NJZ’s actions, stating, “Even after the provisional injunction, they violated the obligations, and it seems like they will continue to violate it in the future.” The court further said that their decision to impose such a heavy financial penalty stemmed from the aim to uphold the authority of such injunctions and to ensure that entertainment contracts are respected in the industry.

Also Read: K-Pop Group NewJeans Announces New Group Name NJZ Amid Legal Battle With HYBE, ADOR

What Is The Dispute Between NewJeans And ADOR About

The NewJeans case has gained widespread attention in South Korea, with both parties receiving support. Whatever the verdict of this ruling would be, it would set a precedent for many other entertainment dispute cases for the future and would define agency and idol relationships.
The dispute between the two started when Newjeans held a live in November 2024, where they accused ADOR of violating their contract terms. The members said that they had lost complete trust in their management and would not operate under them any further.

Also Read: All You Need To Know About NewJeans And ADOR Contract Dispute In Court

First Published: June 09, 2025 7:47 PM