The ongoing legal conflict between the K-pop group NewJeans and their management firm ADOR persists over their contractual disagreement. The second hearing for the lawsuit filed by ADOR against the girl group was held on June 5. The Seoul Central District Court’s 41st Civil Agreement Division hosted the hearing where the company sought to validate its exclusive contract with NewJeans. No mutual agreement between the two parties was reached in the hearing, and the next date to discuss the case has been scheduled for July 24.
What Happened In The Court Hearing And NewJeans’ Response
Talks of a settlement were the highlight of this hearing. The presiding judge for the case attempted to encourage both sides to agree to a settlement. He recommended that the conflicting parties settle their dispute. However, New Jeans’ legal team flatly refused to do so. They stated that their client has lost complete trust in ADOR, and there is no turning back for them. This was also the second time that the group’s representatives rejected the possibility of a settlement. The NewJeans members were absent from the hearing. Only their legal team were present in court.
Also Read: K-Pop Group NewJeans Announces New Group Name NJZ Amid Legal Battle With HYBE, ADOR
ADOR’s Response
ADOR’s legal counsel, however, seemed open to a potential resolution and settlement. They stated that settlement talks would be easier once the court’s conclusion comes out. This suggests that the company might be willing to reconsider its stance once the verdict for the case is revealed.
What Is The Dispute About
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.
As the name NewJeans was trademarked by ADOR, the group rebranded as NJZ. They opened different social media accounts with the new name, where members directly interact with fans. This was also an attempt by the group to establish their own identity outside ADOR. ADOR, however, responded by swift action by filing a lawsuit to assert the ongoing validity of their contract and block NJZ from operating separately.