NewJeans accuses ADOR of ‘illegally collecting evidence' in Min Hee Jin case at 2nd contract dispute hearing
The session was part of ADOR's lawsuit to validate its exclusive contract with the group. It was marked by sharp disputes over the admissibility of documents linked to former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin's separate legal battle with Source Music, LE SSERAFIM's agency.
Dispute over document requests
During the proceedings, both sides debated a request submitted by ADOR for materials from the ongoing Source Music vs. Min Hee Jin lawsuit. It is being handled in the Western District Court.
NewJeans ' legal team pushed back strongly against the request. They claimed that some of the data in question was gathered illegally. 'There is some data among the relevant case materials that could be considered illegally collected evidence in violation of the Information and Communications Network Act,' they said.
However, ADOR argued that the files, obtained through an internal audit, were necessary to build their case. They revealed, 'It is a matter for the Western District Court to decide, but this is data obtained through an audit process. The computer file is the problem, but the provider consented and the computer is owned by the company, so it cannot be said to be illegal.'
The court sided with ADOR on this point. While not validating the documents as evidence outright, the judge allowed their submission. The court stated that it is up to the plaintiff to sift through the files to identify and prove what is legally admissible.
What's the outcome of second hearing?
As in the first hearing held earlier this year, the court once again encouraged both sides to consider mediation. It probed for any possibility of reconciliation. ADOR expressed a willingness to explore the option after the court reaches a preliminary decision.
NewJeans' side, however, was firm in their stance. Their legal representatives rejected the proposal entirely. They reiterated that trust between the two parties has been irreparably damaged and that a return to ADOR was out of the question.
About the dispute
NewJeans first declared their exclusive contracts with ADOR nullified in November 2024. The group made accusations that the agency had severely breached its obligations. After that, the group rebranded under the name NJZ and began operating independently. However, they soon got legally barred from releasing new music, appearing in ads, or promoting under the NJZ label without ADOR's approval.
What's next?
With both sides standing firm and legal complexities deepening, the next hearing is scheduled for July 24 at 4 p.m. KST. The court is expected to further review evidence and arguments, possibly inching closer to a resolution. Though, for now, any form of settlement remains off the table.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
NJZ erased? Representative company's recent update on website worries fans about disbandment - Here's what we know
NJZ (NewJeans) and their company ADOR have been at the centre of a legal battle for quite some time. After the group left the company, citing that the terms were not being met and that they were not being treated properly, a legal case was filed against the agency. Since then, there have been around 3 hearings for the case, with the court ruling in favour of the company, and NJZ trying their best to protest the decision. This all has left fans worried about the group's uncertain future, and the new update on the company's website has also brought forth another wave of worry. Read on to know more. NJZ removed from company's website Many fans noted that the website for NJZ's company has changed, and that the K-pop girl group's name is no longer mentioned on the website. Previously, they used a website where their social media platforms as well as a separate link for NJZ's website, were all linked together in the hamburger menu of the information bar. Now, through online posts and comments, it was found that the interlinked feature that led to NJZ's own website has officially been removed without any prior notice. This action has sent fans of the group into worrying about whether the group is officially disbanding or not. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Real-Time Conversations in 68 Languages? AI Just Made It Possible Enence 2.0 Undo Fans react Fans have been reacting left and right to the news. While some seem to be elated, most seem to think that this can be the mark of their official disbandment, as no proper updates have been shared by the girls ever since their third hearing about the matter. One fan commented, 'Does this mean newjeans is free from that evil company?', while another shared, 'everyone celebrating, thinking they are free but this is worse. This means ador has given up bringing them back and will likely go for penalties oml I'm actually heartbroken'. About NJZ NewJeans debuted in 2022 with five members, namely, Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein. Their debut came with the hit single 'Attention' which managed to garner a lot of traction quickly and helped them rise to fame right away. Some of their other songs that ended up going viral online include but are not limited to, 'Hype Boy' and 'Cookie'. Their last release was EP 'Get Up', in 2023, which courted praise from the public. Amid their legal battle, they rebranded themselves as NJZ, and even released a new song titled 'Pit Stop', however were not able to perform and promote it owing to court orders.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
NJZ fan draws parallels between NewJeans' legal battle and C-drama star Zhao Lusi's harassment claims; triggers mixed reaction
Women fighting for their worth in the ruthless entertainment industry have waged a relentless battle for years. Some stories are so harrowing, they explode into the public eye and spill over into courtroom drama. This is the reality for both the NewJeans members and Chinese drama star Zhao Lusi - yet their struggles couldn't be more different. Zhao Lusi bravely unveiled the torment she endured under her management, while NewJeans chose the legal battlefield after their beloved CEO Min Hee Jin was ousted from ADOR, shaking the very foundation of their careers. NJZ fan draws parallels between NewJeans and Zhao Lusi Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), a fan wrote, "It's so upsetting to see the victims always getting blamed. NewJeans and Zhao Lusi are being criticized just for speaking up about how scary their companies can be if things aren't made public. People have no idea how powerful these companies are at manipulating public opinion." Its so upsetting to see the victims always getting blamedNewJeans and Zhao Lusi are being criticized just for speaking up about how scary their companies can be if things aren't made publicPeople have no idea how powerful these companies are at manipulating public opinion Post draws mixed reaction While the post has received over 10K likes, it also sparked backlash. Critics accused the fan of equating the abuse Zhao Lusi faced with "NewJeans brats" who only wanted to leave because of Min Hee Jin's removal. To compare Zhao Lusi's case (which is a serious case considering her struggles physically and emotionally) with NJ's brat superiority complex case wow. Stop using others case to justify their behavior, maybe focus on getting solid evidence. No way are y'all comparing new jeans to lusi. This actually belittles everything lusi went through Don't you dare lump what ZLS is going through and those brats NJ ZLS company is going behind her back and taking money from her and wants more even while she's NJ instead are still getting paid for being Abuse faced by Zhao Lusi Famous for her roles in Hidden Love and The Romance of Tiger and Rose, the C-drama actor bravely exposed the harsh reality behind her management agency, Galaxy KU Media. While battling a serious illness, she accused the company of manipulating her emotionally and handling her finances without permission. In a revealing Weibo post, Zhao detailed unauthorized transactions made on her behalf. She later shared in a livestream how, instead of receiving proper medical care, she was confined to a hotel room as her health rapidly declined. Fans also revealed chilling accounts of Zhao being pushed to continue filming even while dependent on oxygen and confined to a wheelchair, forced to endure grueling shoots despite her deteriorating health. What about the NewJeans vs ADOR case? In November 2024, the conflict between NewJeans and ADOR came to a head when NJZ rebranded and officially terminated their contract, claiming a serious violation of trust after CEO Min Hee Jin was fired. Member Hanni's stirring statement before a parliamentary committee in October 2024, in which she raised concerns about workplace harassment within the organization, sparked this uproar. Despite the members' allegations of mismanagement and harassment, the court consistently ruled in favor of ADOR, citing a lack of concrete evidence from NJZ. On July 24, 2025, the highly anticipated third hearing took place at Seoul Central District Court. A turning point came when NJZ's legal team revealed that, despite their strong efforts to end their exclusive contracts, the members would think about rejoining ADOR - but only if the organization could completely return the environment to its pre-damaging April 2024 state. NJZ is committed to terminating their contracts and establishing a new course in the event that that proves to be impossible. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Time of India
BTS management agency under investigation; alleged to have drawn off from NJZ's contract fee for funding to subsidiary
BTS' management firm has been under investigation by authorities for quite some time. From insider trading claims to the CEO allegedly gaining funds from IPOs that were not announced, they have undergone a lot of rumours in the past months. Now, another allegation against the company has come to light. New reports against the BTS agency come to light As per the speculations and allegations, they have been drawing out funds from the contract fee for NJZ to provide funds to another subsidiary operating under them. Reports from Instiz have revealed a legal document that directly points towards how the company has been profiting off of NJZ's contract fee and has been siphoning funds from them. The contract in hand is a partnership deal that occurred between the popular K-pop group and an extremely popular online game that went viral a few years ago. The deal was for 10.0 billion KRW; however, as per documents, it showed that the company had taken about 4.10 billion KRW for a subsidiary. The issue was caught later on, after which they issued a statement of correction, while returning only 1.60 billion KRW. Many have been sharing their disdain over the matter and have expressed how unrealistic the situation is. Many share their speculations online According to the report, many have taken to fan forum websites to share their insights on the matter. Allegedly, the original amount that was taken from the contract fee was 500 million KRW, which was later increased to 4.1 billion KRW by the company after Min Hee Jin left another one of their subsidiaries, ADOR. This has become another case that is currently being investigated by Investigation Bureau 4. Previously, it was reported that approximately 27 entities from the company, including the chairman Bang Shi Hyuk, have been under investigation. They are being investigated based on tax evasion, fraud, and stock market manipulation.
