Ador launches lawsuit against K-pop stars

Chart-topping K-pop group NewJeans could be denied endorsement deals and other contracts after their record label issued an injunction against them.

The fivesome is currently embroiled in a bitter dispute with Ador, the entertainment company that created their band in 2022.

Last November, the group said their contracts were void because of what they claimed was a pattern of bullying, harassment and trickery at the company. Ador, which denies the allegations, sued to keep their contracts in place.

The company now accuses NewJeans of trying to sign independent deals without its approval and has taken further legal action in Seoul, South Korea.

“This decision was made to prevent confusion and potential harm to third parties, including advertisers,” Ador explained in a statement.

The agency also warned that the consequences for South Korea’s lucrative music industry could be wider if NewJeans’ actions go unchecked.

“Allowing unilateral termination of exclusive contracts and independent activities without legal procedures could undermine investment in the entertainment industry and destabilize the K-pop sector,” Ador said in his statement on the ban, according to Yonhap news agency.

NewJeans were considered one of K-Pop’s brightest new acts, thanks to their playful blend of 1990s R&B and sugary pop tunes.

In 2023, they were the eighth best-selling in the world. Last year they were nominated for Best Group at the MTV Awards.

But their relationship with Ador soured after its parent company Hybe allegedly ousted their mentor Min Hee Jin.

The group issued an ultimatum demanding the reinstatement of Min. When Hybe refused, the group launched a series of complaints against the label, including claims that Hybe had deliberately undermined their career.

At a press conference last November, the five members – Minji, Hani, Daniel, Herin and Hein – announced their departure from the company, saying that Haib and Ador had lost the right to represent them as artists.

They subsequently filed for legal separation from the agency, but the case is still pending.

Ador claims the band’s contract, which runs until 2027, should be upheld.

The label has already finalized the quintet’s schedule for the next 12 months, which includes releasing a new album and holding fan meetings, among other things.

However, the band members continue to assert their independence by creating a new Instagram account called “jeansforfree” where they held regular live broadcasts with fans.

The band says it will fight to keep its name and career alive and will remain “NewJeans at heart” even if it loses that fight.

This is not the first time a K-pop group has tried to cancel a contract.

Popular groups TVXQ and Fifty Fifty sued their labels, but the cases led to mixed results, and both groups had lineup changes as a result.

The biggest challenge NewJeans faces is that the case against Ador could take two to three years if it goes to trial. During this time, they are unlikely to be able to record or promote new music, unless the projects are co-created with the label.

If the court eventually finds Hybe guilty, the members will be able to walk away – and maybe even be able to keep the band name.

But if the decision goes against the band, they could face a financial penalty.

In October K-pop news site Koreaboo is rated that the bidders will have to pay around 300 billion South Korean won (around £170 million) to terminate the contract early.