ADOR, a subsidiary of K-pop giant HYBE, has filed a lawsuit to prevent girl group NewJeans from terminating their exclusive contract, escalating a high-stakes dispute in the Korean music industry.
The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday (December 3) Seoul Central District Courtchallenging the group’s recent attempts to leave the label, i like it Claim that the existing contract is still legally binding and cannot be terminated unilaterally.
ADOR said: “While we do not wish to seek legal intervention from artists, we believe it is necessary to clarify to artists and all relevant stakeholders that our exclusive contracts cannot be unilaterally terminated solely due to the assertion of one party.” In a statement sent to MBW in a statement.
“We believe it is necessary to clarify to artists and all relevant stakeholders that our exclusive contracts cannot be terminated unilaterally based solely on the assertion of one party.”
i like it
The lawsuit follows a press conference new jeans On November 28, the group publicly announced its intention to withdraw from ADOR. group member Hanni Claims the record label has “neither the ability nor the will to protect” members, citing psychological distress and “breach of trust”.
ADOR’s legal action seeks to determine the validity of the contract, arguing that the group’s claims do not constitute legal grounds for termination. The company insists existing agreements remain in effect.
The dispute between ADOR and NewJeans stems from a wider internal conflict involving Heejin’s thoughtsformer CEO of ADOR and former creative director of the group. HYBE previously accused Min of trying to sell company stock and leaking confidential information, leading to her removal as CEO and subsequent resignation from the company’s board of directors.
NewJeans also accused ADOR employees of abuse. In a YouTube livestream in September, members claimed they were overheard ignoring their instructions, underscoring deep-rooted tensions within the group.
ADOR’s latest statement emphasizes its commitment to “continue working with NewJeans.” The company highlighted how “K-pop music evolves through collaboration between the talent and dedication of artists and the company’s full investment and trust based on its expertise.”
You can read ADOR’s full statement below:
Hello everyone, I am ADOR.
On December 3rd, Korean time, ADOR filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract with our company’s artist NewJeans to ensure its continued legal execution.
While we do not wish to seek legal intervention from artists, we believe it is necessary to clarify to artists and all relevant stakeholders that our exclusive contracts cannot be terminated unilaterally based solely on the assertion of one party. Above all, this decision was made to protect the trust-based relationships that drive the K-pop industry and protect the foundation of the country’s popular culture. Our goal is to make this clear in court.
It is with a heavy heart that we feel it is important to clarify any misunderstandings that an exclusive contract with an artist has been legally terminated, as this may result in the artist engaging in entertainment activities in violation of the existing agreement. We also want to protect industry professionals from any unintended harm or confusion as a result.
K-Pop grows through collaboration between the talent and dedication of artists and the full investment and trust of companies based on their expertise. In this industry full of uncertainty, companies inevitably need long-term support to ensure the growth of artists. This active support is based on mutual expectations and trust that the parties have grown together over time and forms the basis of the exclusive contract agreed upon by both parties.
If this basic mutual agreement is not adhered to, despite the uncertainty, investments in companies based on long-term trust will not be protected and become ineffective. This would seriously hinder the continued growth of K-pop, as the system’s structured support, investment, and progress would be at risk. We are deeply concerned about possible disruption to the growth cycle of K-pop, which has developed rapidly through the hard work and dreams of many people.
We remain committed to continuing our partnership with NewJeans. In addition to seeking judicial decisions regarding the validity of exclusive contracts, we firmly believe that a full, candid dialogue with artists is crucial. Although the factory has made many sincere requests, we have not yet had the opportunity to communicate directly with the artists. But we will continue to make every effort to eliminate unnecessary misunderstandings between artists and companies. We are committed to doing our best to ensure that NewJeans can reward their loving fans with even better events. We ask that you continue to support ADOR and NewJeans members in working together to wisely overcome this situation.
Thanks.
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