South Korean courts grant ADOR’s injunction to prohibit NewJeans from independent activities

Today (21 Mar), South Korean courts have granted ADOR, a subsidiary of Hybe, an injunction to prohibit NewJeans from independent activities.

What happened before this

This came after a slew of events, which originated from NewJeans’ issuance of an ultimatum following the resignation of Min Hee-jin. Min was the former CEO of ADOR, taking charge of the band’s creative direction.

Thereafter, the band announced that they would be terminating their exclusive contracts last November. However, according to ADOR, these contracts remained valid.

This January, ADOR filed an injunction against the quintet “to prevent confusion and potential harm to third parties, including advertisers,” per BBC.

In a surprise announcement made last month, the girls announced that they would go by “NJZ”, together with a performance in Hong Kong for ComplexCon.

Read more: K-pop girl group NewJeans announces new band name, NJZ

When fans thought that they would be going with a new identity and new band name, news broke today (21 Mar) that the Seoul Central District Court has ruled in favour of ADOR.

What now? 

The court granted the application for a preliminary injunction which will recognise the company, ADOR, as the “exclusive management agency” of the band.

What this means, practically, is that none of the five members can sign any “advertising contracts independently — or through any third party — without ADOR’s approval”.

Read more: NewJeans to terminate exclusive contracts with ADOR, group reveals in emergency press conference

Per BBC, this rule will apply to all their independent activities. This includes the making and release of new music.

“We express our sincere gratitude for the court’s judicious decision to grant the preliminary injunction,” ADOR stated via a press statement.

“With our status as NewJeans’ exclusive agency now legally affirmed, we are fully committed to supporting the artists going forward,” it added.

ADOR also said that they will be present at the group’s individually scheduled appearance at the upcoming ComplexCon event “to guarantee the performance is presented under the NewJeans’ name”.