ADOR Claims Min Hee-jin Engineered NewJeans Contract Termination: “Obvious Misrepresentation”

On July 24, the Seoul Central District Court (Civil Division 41) convened for its third hearing regarding ADOR’s lawsuit aimed at affirming its exclusive contracts with the members of NewJeans: Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein.

During the 30-minute presentation, the legal representatives of ADOR unveiled excerpts from alleged KakaoTalk communications attributed to Min Hee-jin. These messages suggested that she was the architect behind the parents’ protest emails, meticulously crafting their tone and constructing a comprehensive media strategy to support the group’s exit.

ADOR’s claims include accusations that Min Hee-jin tailored the language of these emails to resonate with specific sentiments expressed by parents. Furthermore, she purportedly developed a detailed list of seven talking points intended to sway public opinion negatively against both ADOR and HYBE. According to ADOR, this entire operation was not a spontaneous outcry but rather a deliberate, orchestrated campaign that unfolded over the course of seven months.

Key Allegations from ADOR

Min Hee-jin is characterized as the “mastermind”behind the termination of NewJeans’ contracts.
Parents of NewJeans collaborated in a media campaign under her expert direction.
Elements such as live broadcasts and Hanni’s appearance at the National Assembly were integrated as part of the strategy.
Assertions regarding HYBE’s abandonment of NewJeans stem from misinterpretations of internal documentation, with Min Hee-jin having voiced no concerns about these reports when they were originally documented 18 months ago.

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Furthermore, ADOR contends that it honored all obligations towards NewJeans, asserting, “There is no breach of trust on our side. The accusation that HYBE abandoned NewJeans distorts the facts.” Earlier in the proceedings, ADOR successfully obtained a court injunction that confirmed its management rights and restricted NewJeans from engaging in independent promotions or entering new advertising contracts without prior consent. The court has underscored that any violations could incur a penalty of ₩1 billion (approximately $770, 000) for each member.

NewJeans’ Defense

Conversely, the legal team representing NewJeans contends that the trust between the group and ADOR has been irreparably damaged. They highlight management shortcomings, unaddressed obligations, and a shift in ADOR’s corporate ethos following Min Hee-jin’s exit. The group argues that ADOR’s responses to grievances lacked sufficient clarity and depth, and that attempts to replace Min Hee-jin as producer were largely symbolic.

The group asserts that the termination of their contract was lawful and based on serious infractions, including a failure to ensure the safety of the artists and internal disputes that arose post-HYBE’s management consolidation.

Despite ADOR’s challenge that NewJeans’ reasons for contract termination are inconsistent, the group insists that the lack of trust and insufficient support renders any continuation of the contract untenable.

As both parties prepare for the next phase of the trial, the widening divide between NewJeans and ADOR appears to deepen, with a resolution still out of reach.

Daum

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