The court hearing for the injunction filed by ADOR, an agency under HYBE, which is experiencing a dispute over the cancellation of the exclusive contract with the idol group NewJeans (current activity name NJZ), took place on the 7th. Five members of NJZ appeared in court that day to express their position.
On the same day, the Seoul Central District Court's Civil Agreement Division 50, presided over by Chief Judge Kim Sang-hoon, held a hearing for approximately two hours regarding the injunction lawsuit filed by ADOR against the NJZ members to preserve its agency status and prohibit entering into advertising contracts. Although there is no obligation for the parties to appear in court, all five NJZ members, including Minji, Hanni, Daniel, Haerin, and HAEIN, were present. The members, dressed in matching black outfits, closely listened to the statements of both sides' representatives during the hearing. ADOR's representative, CEO Kim Joo-young, attended the court.
Earlier, NJZ notified ADOR of the cancellation of their exclusive contract on November 29 of the same year after Min Hee-jin, the former representative of ADOR, was dismissed in August of last year. In response, ADOR filed an 'injunction to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract' against NJZ in December of last year at the Seoul Central District Court. However, NJZ continued its independent activities, including changing its group name to NJZ. Consequently, ADOR filed this injunction application in January.
On that day, ADOR mentioned the support from its parent company, HYBE, as a background to NJZ's rapid growth. ADOR's representative stated, '(ADOR) received a total investment of 21 billion won from HYBE in two installments' and noted that 'this is unprecedented for an investment in a single group.' They added, 'NJZ was introduced from the beginning as the 'sister group of BTS' and was promoted as 'following BTS' and 'surpassing BTS' at the request of former representative Min Hee-jin,' stating that 'utilizing the recognition of another group in PR was the only instance at HYBE at that time.'
ADOR also stated that the claims made by NJZ members regarding the cancellation of the contract, such as 'HYBE dislikes debtors' and 'discriminates,' are 'baseless and unrelated to the main content of the exclusive contract,' asserting that '(the exclusive contract with NJZ) is valid until July 31, 2029.' They continued, 'NJZ has been generating significant revenue since 2023,' emphasizing that 'it makes no sense for a profit-seeking private company to bury its main source of income.'
In contrast, NJZ cited 'breach of trust' as the reason for the need to terminate the exclusive contract. A representative for NJZ stated, 'All of the actions that show HYBE's massive media play, discarding 'New Jeans' to regroup, plagiarism controversy over ILYIT, and collusion with the dolphin kidnapping syndicate occurred between 2023 and 2024,' adding, 'No artist among HYBE's affiliated labels, excluding debtors, has gone through such incidents.'
Moreover, NJZ stated, 'ADOR thinks that as long as it properly handles settlements and guarantees the dates for entertainment activities, it has done everything it should, and the concepts of trust and musical identity are not relevant; ADOR’s attitude implies that it can simply assign a new producer and provide support.’ They argued, 'However, HYBE and other labels under it have continuously engaged in unlawful acts against affiliated entertainers and admit that they have neither the ability nor the will to prevent or take action against this.'
They added, 'The essence of this case is that HYBE and ADOR discriminated against and attempted to replace NJZ with another group, which is clearly a violation of the obligation to protect debtors under the exclusive contract. ADOR is trying to bind NJZ like a slave and starve them without any reflection or apology.'
At the end of the hearing, both ADOR's CEO Kim Joo-young and NJZ members made statements. CEO Kim said, 'The reason for filing the injunction application is simple: I want to be with the NJZ members,' urging, 'Please give me a chance to truly run for NJZ and the members of ADOR.'
NJZ members also spoke. Haerin, who was the first to speak, expressed, 'I felt a great sense of powerlessness watching ADOR's attitude of not taking any action against HYBE and other labels that undermine our performance and damage our image.' She added, 'Former representative Min Hee-jin did her best to protect us against such external attacks or damage to our image, but HYBE instead questioned her actions, attacked her, and even dismissed her,' stating, 'We want to emphasize that being forced to remain in an exclusive contract with ADOR causes us great pain.'
Daniel then stated, 'While we stand on stage as five, we are a team of six, including representative Min Hee-jin,' adding, 'I still want to be with (Min Hee-jin).' With tears, she said, 'No matter the outcome, I do not wish to be with ADOR.' HAEIN, with a trembling voice, opened up, 'I feel that the future as an idol and as a person in the current ADOR is so hopeless and bleak.' She continued, 'The work we previously created with (Min Hee-jin), which contained everyone's sincerity, was genuine, but I believe we cannot approach the public with insincere works devoid of authenticity.'
Hanni expressed, 'Seeing how HYBE is trying to block us, I think they are actually afraid of us. HYBE fears our success and our future,' stating, 'It is difficult to work with a company that does not respect us and does not provide trust.' Finally, Minji said, 'The unfairness and discrimination I feel are all misunderstandings, and the current ADOR saying all can be restored if we return only deepens our wounds,' adding, 'Rather than supporting and protecting us, ADOR has constantly bullied us from behind, making it impossible to perform and fulfill our contract. I hope the court understands our feelings.'
After the court had almost concluded the hearing, Daniel raised her hand to request one more opportunity to speak. When the court permitted her, she tearfully stated, 'I’m 21 years old, and I don’t want to experience another five years with ADOR,' adding, 'I want to emphasize once again that I have no desire to be with ADOR.'
After the trial, NJZ members told reporters gathered outside the court, 'Since this matter relates to us, we thought it was better to attend in person.' They added, 'I feel that I was able to explain the injustices we've faced properly, so I have no regrets.'
Meanwhile, the first trial for the 'injunction to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract' filed by ADOR regarding NJZ is scheduled to be held on April 3.