South Korean Court Rules NewJeans’ Contract With ADOR Is Valid Until 2029

The group first announced their intentions to depart from the record label in November 2024.

Summary

• NewJeans’ contract with ADOR is valid until 2029, ruled the Seoul Central District Court
• The court rejected the group’s termination claims, stating the former CEO’s dismissal was not a breach
• ADOR is now committed to resuming NewJeans’ activities, including a full album release

NewJeans has lost its legal battle against record label ADOR after almost a year.

The Seoul Central District Court officially ruled that the group’s contract with ADOR remains valid until 2029. The ruling was made several months after the Seoul High Court rejected the appeal filed by members Hanni, Hyein, Haerin, Danielle and Minji to terminate their exclusive contracts with the label. The court further shut down NewJeans’ claims that ADOR’s dismissal of the group’s mentor and former label CEO Min Hee-jin was a breach of contract.

ADOR shared a statement:

In November 2024, NewJeans revealed their plans to depart ADOR, citing the label’s mistreatment towards them and their staff, “countless preventions and contradictions, deliberate miscommunication, and manipulation regarding multiple areas.” Hanni added that the label is “a company that no longer has any sincerity in the art of music that is created, is rather fixated on appearing like a well-working company despite only having thoughts about making money, and does not have any conscience about the negative effect they create through their non-authentic means.” ADOR responded by stating that the agreement between the label and NewJeans “remains in full effect.”

The group rebranded in February 2025 as NJZ, but the Seoul Central District Court sided with ADOR a month later as their exclusive agency. NewJeans announced their hiatus shortly after.