NewJeans Announces Termination of Exclusive Contract with ADOR:
"We Can No Longer Work with a Company That Fails to Protect Its Artists"

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Global girl group NewJeans has sent shockwaves through the K-pop industry by declaring their split from ADOR.

On the morning of the 29th, NewJeans (Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein) publicly released a 26-page document detailing their grievances with ADOR, revealing deepening conflicts with their agency.

Industry experts believe this event could trigger significant changes in the exclusive contract practices of the K-pop industry.

At an emergency press conference held in Seoul's Gangnam district, NewJeans criticized ADOR harshly, stating, "The agency has neither the will nor the ability to protect its artists."

The group announced their intention to terminate their exclusive contract, initially signed on April 21, 2022, and set to last until July 2029.

Entertainment law specialist Kim remarked,
"It’s unprecedented for a group in its second year to attempt such a move, especially one with significant global attention.
The repercussions will be profound."

The conflict traces back to October 13, when NewJeans sent an official document titled "Request for Rectification of Contract Violations" to ADOR under their real names.

Key issues included comments allegedly made by HYBE executives such as "It’s just business; we can rebuild," mistreatment by other label managers, unauthorized disclosure of trainee footage, and calls for the reinstatement of former CEO Min Hee-jin.

K-pop industry analyst Park commented,

"In the era of social media, protecting artists has become a fundamental responsibility for management companies.

This case highlights structural issues within the industry, not just a contractual dispute." Min Hee-jin’s sudden resignation and subsequent legal actions have added further complexity to the situation.

Notably, Min Hee-jin has taken aggressive legal measures, including filing a ₩5 billion damages suit against BELIFT LAB executives and accusing HYBE's PR heads of breach of fiduciary duty.

These actions are interpreted as fallout from her termination of the shareholder agreement with HYBE.

Legal experts are closely watching the case for its potential impact on industry standards.

Attorney Choi, an entertainment law specialist, noted,
"This could establish new benchmarks balancing artist rights and contractual stability.

It might lead to a reinterpretation of the scope of artist protection and the grounds for contract termination."

ADOR, however, maintains its stance, asserting,

"The exclusive contract remains valid, and we regret the lack of communication before this decision was made."

The agency added that it has repeatedly sought dialogue with NewJeans, leaving the door open for further discussions.

ADOR also argued that many issues cited by the group stemmed from third-party actions rather than the agency’s direct conduct, signaling potential legal disputes.

A representative from the Korean Entertainment Industry Association emphasized,
"This incident highlights the need for a comprehensive review of artist protection, contract execution, and communication systems.

New management standards for globally active groups are urgently required."

Meanwhile, the Recording Producers Association stressed the importance of creating a new contract model that harmonizes artist rights with corporate management.

As the legal battle appears likely to drag on, the industry is watching closely to see whether this case becomes a turning point for the healthy growth of K-pop.

The controversy underscores the need for protecting artists’ rights and modernizing management systems for global competitiveness.