A South Korean court has ruled against K-pop group NewJeans, which had sought to cut ties with its record label Ador. The court ordered the band to stop all independent activities, including making music and signing advertising deals.
NewJeans had accused Ador of mistreatment before leaving the label in August 2024. However, the court found that the label had fulfilled most of its contractual duties, including payment. The ruling casts uncertainty over the release of NewJeans’ new song scheduled for Sunday and will make it difficult for them to re-debut under their new name without facing financial penalties.
The group’s dispute with Ador began when Hybe, the parent company of Ador, allegedly forced out NewJeans’ mentor, Min Hee-Jin. The band then accused Ador of deliberately undermining their careers and one member alleged workplace harassment. A court statement noted that if NewJeans unilaterally terminate their contract, Ador would suffer greatly, and the group’s new name could damage both NewJeans and Ador’s reputations.
NewJeans has vowed to challenge the ruling and continue fighting for their independence. Despite losing this battle, they remain committed to their career and will attempt to keep their name and identity intact.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgzd2e2pkro