After the group NewJeans lost the first trial in a dispute over their exclusive contract with entertainment agency ADOR, they announced that they have no intention of returning to ADOR.
On the 30th, Sejong Law Firm, the legal representative of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, announced, “The Seoul Central District Court has ruled in the first trial that the exclusive contract is valid in the lawsuit filed by ADOR to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract.”
Along with this, they said, “The members respect the court’s decision, but in a situation where the trust relationship with ADOR has completely collapsed, it is impossible for them to return to the company and engage in normal entertainment activities.”
The members then stated, “We plan to appeal this ruling, and we hope that the appellate court will comprehensively review the facts and legal principles related to the termination of the exclusive contract.”
Previously, the 41st Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jeong Hoe-il) ruled in favor of the plaintiff, ADOR, in a lawsuit filed by ADOR against five members of NewJeans to confirm the validity of their exclusive contracts.
The court ruled, “It is difficult to see that ADOR violated the obligations stated as the reason for termination of the exclusive contract,” and “We confirm that the exclusive contract signed on April 21, 2022 is valid.”
They also explained, “It’s difficult to conclude that the mere fact that former CEO Min Hee-jin was dismissed from her position at ADOR has created a management vacuum, and it’s impossible to conclude that ADOR lacks the ability or plans to carry out that responsibility.” They added, “The exclusive contract does not explicitly state that former CEO Min must take over ADOR.”
