Ador takes legal action against K-pop star

Number one K-pop group NewJeans may be banned from signing advertising deals and other contracts after their record label filed a ban against them.

The five are currently in a bitter dispute with Ador, the entertainment company that formed the band in 2022.

In November, the group claimed their contract was invalid because of what they claimed was bullying, harassment and subterfuge at the company. Adol denies the accusations and sued to have their contract upheld.

The company is now accusing NewJeans of trying to sign independent deals without its approval and has taken further legal action in Seoul, South Korea.

“This decision was made to prevent confusion and potential harm to third parties, including advertisers,” Adol explained in a statement.

The agency also warned that if NewJeans' behavior goes unchecked, it could have wider repercussions on South Korea's lucrative music industry.

“Unilateral termination of exclusive contracts and independent activities without legal process permission may harm investment in the entertainment industry and destabilize the K-pop industry,” Ador said in its injunction application, according to Yonhap News Agency.

NewJeans are considered one of the brightest new bands in K-pop, thanks to their interesting blend of 1990s R&B and sugar-coated pop melodies.

In 2023, their show was the eighth best-selling show in the world. Last year, they were nominated for an MTV Award for Best Group.

But their relationship with Ador soured after Ador's parent company Hybe allegedly ousted their mentor Min Hee-Jin.

The band issued an ultimatum, demanding that Min be reinstated. When Hybe refused, the group publicly filed a series of complaints against the brand, including claims that Hybe was deliberately sabotaging their careers.

In a press conference last November, five members – Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein – announced their departure from the company, saying Hybe and Ador had lost the right to represent them as artists.

They subsequently filed court documents seeking a legal separation from the agency, but the case is pending.

Adore believes the band's contract, which runs until 2027, should be upheld.

The label has finalized the quintet's schedule for the next 12 months, which includes the release of a new album and events such as fan meetings.

However, the band members continued to assert their independence and created a new Instagram account under the name “”.jeans”, they conduct live broadcasts with fans regularly.

The band said they will fight to keep their name and career, and even if they lose the battle, they will keep the “belief in NewJeans' hearts.”

This isn't the first time a K-pop band has tried to terminate their contract.

Popular groups TVXQ and 555 have both taken their record labels to court, but the cases have had mixed results, resulting in lineup changes for both bands.

The biggest problem facing NewJeans is that their case against Ador could take two to three years to settle if it goes to trial. During this time, they are unlikely to record or promote new music unless those projects are created in conjunction with a record label.

If a court ultimately finds Hybe at fault, the members will be able to leave, possibly even keeping the band's name.

But if the decision goes against the band, they could face financial penalties.

October, K-pop music news site Koreaboo estimates Members must pay around 300 billion won (approximately £170 million) to terminate their contracts early.