Latest news with #ADOR
Pink Villa
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Weekly Top Korean News: NewJeans' 1 billion KRW fine in ADOR feud, BLACKPINK Jisoo's brother scandal, Go Min Si bullying claims and more
This week in Korean entertainment, controversies are heating up. HYBE faces police investigation over alleged IPO fraud. NewJeans battles legal fines amid contract dispute with ADOR, while BLACKPINK's Jisoo's brother is accused of secretly filming women. ASTRO's Cha Eun Woo prepares for military enlistment. Meanwhile, Go Min Si denies school bullying claims, and a viral podcast stirs backlash with rumors involving Jennie and IU. Read more for full details on these major headlines. HYBE faces investigation over stock fraud allegations Bang Si Hyuk, the founder of HYBE (BTS label) is under police investigation for alleged investor fraud tied to the company's IPO. Authorities claim that in 2019, Bang and his associates misled early investors by denying plans to go public, even though HYBE had already started preparations. This discrepancy reportedly led some investors to sell their shares, while private equity firms later bought in. The case centers on a 400 billion KRW deal. After an initial rejection in May, police have re-applied for a search and seizure warrant targeting HYBE. The Financial Supervisory Service is also reviewing the matter, signaling the potential for a major financial scandal. NewJeans hit with 1 billion fine per violation amid ADOR contract feud The legal conflict between girl group NewJeans and their agency ADOR has escalated. The Seoul Central District Court once again sided with ADOR. On May 30, the court upheld the injunction barring NewJeans from engaging in independent entertainment activities without ADOR's approval. A hefty 1 billion KRW fine was imposed for each violation. The court also stated that this restriction remains in place until a verdict is reached in the main lawsuit concerning the group's exclusive contract. This ruling follows earlier decisions in ADOR's favor. With the second hearing scheduled for June 5, the legal standoff is expected to intensify in the coming weeks. BLACKPINK Jisoo's brother accused of secretly filming women On May 29, a disturbing anonymous post on workplace app Blind accused BLACKPINK Jisoo 's brother, Kim Jung Hoon, of secretly recording intimate encounters without consent. The poster claimed to be a victim, revealing that the incident occurred at his home and that she later discovered he had shown the footage to others. The accuser alleged a pattern of misconduct, including pressuring multiple women, some while his wife was pregnant, into sending explicit content. Kim Jung Hoon is the CEO of Biomom and head of Blissoo, Jisoo's current agency. As the story spreads online, many demand a formal investigation and accountability. Meanwhile, legal action is reportedly being considered from brother's side as he denied all the accusations. Cha Eun Woo to enlist in military this July ASTRO's Cha Eun Woo will begin his mandatory military service this summer. He will enlist on July 28, 2025, as part of the Army Military Band. His agency, Fantagio, confirmed his acceptance into this special unit that allows musically talented conscripts to serve through performance. After basic training, he will fulfill his duties in the band. The enlistment details will remain private, with no public farewell event planned. Fans, especially AROHA, have been sharing warm support online. Cha Eun Woo recently starred in the drama Wonderful World and is set to lead the upcoming series The Wonder Fools, expected in 2026. Go Min Si faces school bullying allegations Go Min Si is facing serious allegations from a former middle school classmate. They accused her of bullying, extortion, and verbal abuse during her youth. The accuser claims many students and teachers were aware of the misconduct and urges Go Min Si to quit acting. However, on May 26, her agency Mystic Story strongly denied the claims, calling them 'groundless' and without factual basis. Despite the backlash, Go Min Si and her agency continue to reject the bullying allegations. The controversy has sparked debate amid the success of her current drama, Tastefully Yours. In it, she stars alongside Kang Ha Neul. Podcast sparks outrage over allegations involving Jennie and IU A recent episode of the Above The Influence podcast sparked controversy. Influencer Kira made shocking claims that several female K-pop idols, including IU, engaged in prostitution with wealthy businessmen. Kira alleged a night with IU cost 500,000 USD, without evidence. The situation worsened when co-host Wootak shared a rumor about BLACKPINK's Jennie having an encounter with the "son of a BMW heir." He claimed an acquaintance had video proof, though he said it was just a story he heard. Both IU's agency EDAM Entertainment and Jennie's label Odd Atelier have not commented. Facing backlash, Wootak defended himself on Instagram, saying he was sharing rumors to highlight dark industry issues and denied attacking Jennie. He apologized for the misunderstanding and urged viewers to see the full episode for context.
Pink Villa
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Will NewJeans have to pay 5 billion KRW for violating court rulings? Here's how ADOR could make group pay hefty fine
The legal battle between K-pop girl group NewJeans and their agency ADOR has escalated further. The Seoul Central District Court issued a decisive ruling in favor of the agency on May 30. The court concluded that the group had breached the terms of an earlier injunction and approved ADOR's request for indirect enforcement. It introduced substantial financial consequences for continued non-compliance. Court confirms violation of March injunction According to the ruling delivered by the court's 52nd Civil Division, NewJeans continued to operate independently, even after the injunction was granted in March 2025. The court specifically cited the group's use of the new name NJZ and the release of new music as activities that violated the court's order. These independent promotions took place both before and after the injunction was issued. They were considered apparent breaches of the legal agreement. Hefty fine imposed on members In response to what the court described as a 'likelihood of continued violations,' it approved a heavy enforcement measure. The ruling imposes a 1 billion KRW fine per member for each instance of unauthorized activity. If all five members are involved in such activities collectively, the penalty could reach a staggering 5 billion KRW per incident. This form of indirect enforcement is intended to deter the group from carrying out any further independent promotions without ADOR 's approval. The court's decision sends a clear message that any disregard for the injunction will come with major financial risk. Dispute traces back to contract termination The conflict began in November 2024, when NewJeans made a surprise announcement declaring the termination of their exclusive contracts with ADOR. The members expressed their intent to part ways with the agency. This move prompted ADOR to initiate legal proceedings. By March 2025, the agency had successfully obtained an injunction restricting the group from signing advertising deals or appearing in events without ADOR's consent. Despite the legal restrictions, the group appeared at ComplexCon in late March, performing and promoting under their new identity NJZ. This public appearance, coupled with the release of new material, led ADOR to pursue indirect enforcement from the court. It resulted in the newly approved fines. NewJeans' response In response to the court's ruling, representatives for NewJeans issued a statement clarifying that the order is not final. 'This indirect enforcement decision is temporary until the injunction appeal is resolved,' the group's legal team noted. 'If the appeal succeeds, both the injunction and the fine lose effect.' The next step in the legal process will be the second hearing for the main contract lawsuit, scheduled for June 5.
Pink Villa
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
NewJeans' Hanni's previous comment about HYBE's money-mindedness reemerge amid Bang Si Hyuk's 400 billion KRW fraud case
HYBE chairman Bang Si Hyuk is currently under intense scrutiny due to the allegedly misinforming investors about HYBE's IPO plans and making profits of around 400 million KRW profits through unfair means. Currently, HYBE is under investigation and public opinion is largely against them. Amid the controversy, Hanni's previous remark regarding the company's greed and lack of artistic integrity gained renewed attention. Hanni's comment about HYBE and ADOR choosing profit over its artists NewJeans publicly declared their split from ADOR, in a press conference in November 2024. Speaking about the reason for such a big decision, Hanni accused ADOR of abandoning its artistic values for commercial gain. She articulated the girl group's collective thoughts regarding the entertainment label not having any integrity and genuineness, as they didn't care about the NewJeans members' well-being anymore. As per her, the label's actions were disrespectful towards the craft they represent and owe their dedication to. She called the HYBE-owned ADOR "a company that no longer has any sincerity in the art of music, a company that only has thoughts about making money, and doesn't have any conscience about the negative effect they create through their non-authentic means." Check out fan reactions to the resurfaced incident The majority of fans appeared to be of the same opinion as Hanni. NewJeans' devoted supporters, who stood firmly by the group during the intense public scrutiny surrounding the ADOR conflict, also rallied behind Hanni's resurfaced comment. They highlighted how Hanni was previously criticized and labeled "ungrateful" for speaking out against her agency, but in light of the recent Bang Si Hyuk stock fraud allegations, her words seemed to have been vindicated. Currently, Bang Si Hyuk case is being investigated for potential violations of the Capital Markets Act and unfair trading practices related to HYBE's 2020 IPO. If found guilty, he could face severe penalties, including life imprisonment or a minimum of five years in prison, under Article 443 of the Capital Markets Act. In the light of the issue, comments like "time cleared NJZ (NewJeans' new moniker)" and "Bang PD has done everything possible to kill its (HYBE's) values" flooded social media. Some even bashed the agency's supporters, calling them "clowns", while others expressed their eager anticipation of the quintet to put an end to their hiatus and return back to the K-pop scene.
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
NewJeans To Pay Hefty Fine For Taking Up Activities Without ADOR's Permission
Last Updated: The court gave the ruling to keep the contract between the agency and NJZ as it is, and to prevent the group from signing separate advertisement contracts. South Korean girl group NJZ (formerly NewJeans) has locked horns with ADOR since November last year over its contract with the agency. In a new update regarding the ongoing legal battle between both parties, a South Korean court has ruled that the quintet, comprising Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, cannot take part in any independent activities without the permission of ADOR or court orders. On Friday, May 30, Koreaboo reported that the 52nd Civil Affairs Department of the Seoul Central District Court partially approved ADOR's request for an injunction. This was done to keep the contract between the agency and NJZ as it is, and to prevent the group from signing separate advertisement contracts. As per the ruling, the quintet would require ADOR's permission until the court decides whether the contract between them stands valid or not. This decision also means that each of the five members of NJZ is not allowed to take up any projects independently or through any third parties, including music or advertisements, until a final ruling is made about their contract dispute with ADOR. If any of the members break this rule, they could be fined a huge amount. They would need to pay 1 billion KRW (approx. $730,000 or Rs 6.24 crore) to ADOR per violation. NJZ would also be required to pay the legal fees per application if they ever violate the judgment. 'The debtor, NJZ, must not engage in entertainment activities independently or through a third party without ADOR's prior approval or consent until the first trial verdict on the contract's validity is announced," said the court. The new approval comes over two months after the Seoul Central District Court, on March 21, accepted the injunction made by ADOR, giving them the liberty to prevent the quintet from carrying out independent activities. The judgment on the injunction was also expanded to prohibit the five members from engaging in any entertainment activities, such as writing, composing, and singing independently. Moreover, when the quintet challenged the judgment, the court rejected their objection in April. Besides the injunctions, the legal battle between NJZ and ADOR continues. Last year, when the girl group announced its sudden departure from the agency, ADOR initiated legal proceedings to confirm the validity of its contract. The next court hearing, where both sides will present their arguments, is set to take place on June 5. First Published:
Pink Villa
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Min Hee Jin vs LE SSERAFIM's agency: June hearing gets scheduled for KakaoTalk messages' validity as evidence amid NewJeans row
Source Music filed a 500 million KRW damages lawsuit against former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. Its second hearing took place on May 30, Friday, during when the agency was set to present some important 'evidence' of the case, that involved text messages. However, Min Hee Jin's side alleged the messages to be illegally obtained. Hence, the court ordered a separate hearing to check its legal validity, as reported by K-media outlet Sports Today. Min Hee Jin's stance in the Source Music case LE SSERAFIM 's label, Source Music, was prepared to present a 20-minute showcase of documents supporting their claims. However, Min Hee Jin 's legal representative raised an objection, arguing that the KakaoTalk messages included in the presentation materials were obtained without proper authorization. Thus, as per the defendant, the texts should not be considered as evidence. ADOR refuted it by claiming that the messages were legally obtained and used in previous trials. Elaborating their concern, Min Hee Jin's team stated, 'What worries us most is that the presentation may contain message excerpts related to the disputed incident.' Additionally, her legal counsel also submitted a formal request for the trial to be held in a closed session, away from public scrutiny. Court decision on Min Hee Jin's request The 12th Civil Division of the Seoul Western District Court acknowledged the former ADOR CEO's concerns regarding the legal admissibility of the KakaoTalk messages, however they denied the second request of a closed session. The judge's ruling mentioned, 'We will proceed with a public hearing, but will restrict any discussion or display of the specific KakaoTalk excerpts the defendant contests until further review." Upon hearing both parties' arguments, the court decided to hold a separate hearing on June 27 to assess the legitimacy of the KakaoTalk evidence. About Min Hee Jin vs Source Music case Min Hee Jin claimed in a press conference that HYBE initially planned to debut NewJeans as their first girl group but instead chose to launch LE SSERAFIM first. She also alleged that HYBE later limited NewJeans' promotional activities and favoured LE SSERAFIM. The dispute further involved Min Hee Jin's disagreements over the casting and training process for NewJeans with HYBE
