NewJeans Faces Major Financial Penalty Amid Ongoing Legal Battle with ADOR
In a dramatic development that has sent ripples through the K-pop industry, the Seoul Central District Court has imposed a heavy financial penalty on the members of NewJeans, ruling that each member must pay 1 billion won (approximately USD $726,300) for engaging in activities outside of their agency ADOR’s control. If all five members of the group are found to have violated this order together, the total fine could reach a staggering 5 billion won ($3.6 million).
The decision, handed down on Friday, May 30, stems from violations of a court injunction issued in March that barred the globally popular girl group from conducting independent promotions. Specifically, the court cited their unauthorized appearance at ComplexCon Hong Kong under the name “NJZ” and the release of their song “Pit Stop” as breaches of that order.
According to Chosun Biz, this kind of “indirect compulsory decision” is a standard measure in the South Korean legal system to enforce compliance with court orders. In this case, each violation results in a separate penalty per member, significantly raising the financial stakes for NewJeans as the case unfolds.
Legal Tug-of-War: ADOR vs. NewJeans
This latest ruling is part of a larger, increasingly contentious legal battle between NewJeans and their label ADOR, which is owned by HYBE Corporation. The conflict began in November 2024, when NewJeans declared their exclusive contract with ADOR terminated—a move ADOR rejected. The label responded by seeking a court injunction to block the group from entering independent advertising or promotional deals.
That injunction was granted in March 2025, and ADOR has since taken further steps to enforce it, leading to the court’s current fine announcement. However, NewJeans’ legal team argues the ruling is only temporary.
“If the NewJeans members win the injunction appeal, both the original and the related indirect enforcement rulings will lose their legal effect,” their legal team told Allkpop. “The indirect compulsory decision announced today was made in response to an application submitted by ADOR on April 4. It is not directly tied to the appeal of the original injunction, which is still under separate legal review.”
Legal Heavyweights Enter the Ring
Both sides have bolstered their legal firepower. NewJeans recently added Park Hyung Nam, a former director of the Judicial Policy Research Institute, to their legal team. Their legal counsel also includes lawyers who previously represented former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, a figure closely tied to the group’s origins and early success.
In response, ADOR has assembled a formidable legal team of its own. Reports from KBIZoom and Naver confirm that ADOR has brought in former Constitutional Court justice Kang Il Won, attorney Chun Ji Sung (daughter of former Justice Minister Chun Jung Bae), and a total of 13 attorneys to represent their case.
What’s Next?
The appeal is now in the hands of the Seoul High Court’s Civil Division 25, with Judges Hwang Byung Ha, Jung Jong Kwan, and Lee Kyun Yong presiding over the case. As of May 21, the appeal is officially underway, and all eyes are on how the court will rule on the broader question of whether NewJeans had the right to terminate their contract and pursue activities independently.
For now, the financial penalties are a warning shot in what could become one of the most significant legal showdowns in K-pop history—one that may reshape how idol contracts are enforced in the digital age.
Publicar un comentario