K-pop group loses legal battle against agency

K-pop group NewJeans has lost a legal battle to leave its record label Ador.

A South Korean court on Tuesday ruled that the act’s contract with the label, which runs until 2029, remains valid.

The five members of the group – Hani, Hein, Haerin, Daniel and Minji – announced last year that they were unilaterally leaving the agency, citing mistreatment and manipulation.

The group said it would appeal the decision, according to local media reports.

NewJeans said it was “impossible to return to Adore” and continue business as usual, the reports said.

The Seoul Central District Court rejected NewJeans’ argument that the firing of Ador’s former CEO Min Hee Jin, who was also the group’s mentor, constituted a breach of contract. NewJeans claims that her dismissal violated their trust in the agency.

In a statement released after the ruling, Ador said it sincerely hoped the decision “will serve as an opportunity for artists to calmly consider this matter.”

The label added that it is ready for the members’ upcoming activities, including the release of an album, and is now “waiting.”

The case stunned South Korea, where record companies wield large amounts of power and tightly control their stars. It is extremely unusual for artists to rebel against them.

Founded in July 2022, NewJeans, whose members range in age from 17 to 21, enjoyed rapid success before its dramatic fallout with the agency.

Their first single, Attention, topped the Korean charts immediately after their debut, while their hit song SuperShy made numerous “best of the year” lists at the end of 2023, including those compiled by Rolling Stone, NME, and Billboard Magazine.

Critics called them “game changers” as their blend of ’90s R&B and sugary pop melodies broke into a K-pop scene dominated by electronic beats.

Tuesday’s decision follows a year-long standoff between the chart-topping group and its agency.

The group’s announcement of its split from Ador, which was made last November during a press conference, came after a long and public dispute between Min Hee-jin and Ador as well as its parent company, Hybe – South Korea’s biggest music label, whose client list includes K-pop royalty such as BTS and Seventeen.

Tensions between Min and Haibe began in April 2024, when Haibe began audits of Ador, which was then run by Min, while also calling for her to step down.

Min rejected Haib’s claims that she plans to go independent. In August, she was fired as CEO of Ador.

The gang soon issues an ultimatum demanding that Min be reinstated. When Hybe refused, the members went public with a series of complaints against the label, including claims that it had deliberately undermined their careers.

One of the group’s members, Hani, also claims she suffered workplace harassment while working with the label.

In December, Ador filed a lawsuit asking the court to uphold the validity of their contract with the band.

As the controversy continued, the five band members attempted to rename themselves NJZ in February. They planned to release a new song, but the promotions were stopped by a court order.

The band did perform it at a show in Hong Kong, where they went on hiatus.

Back in March, after the injunction was granted, the group described the court’s decision as “shock”but said the five would “get through it” together.