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Pink Villa
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Were NewJeans' Minji and ex-ILLIT's Youngseo forced to give up on schooling? HYBE accused of mistreatment
HYBE Labels is under hot waters once again for accusations of mistreating its managed artists. This time, a fan posted a write-up on celebrity discussion portal Pannchoa to claim that the company made the life of young talents hard during their trainee periods, even blocking some from debuting. The post went viral on social media, with fans expressing their disappointment over a big company resorting to such unfavorable means to train their artists. HYBE accused of pressurizing NewJeans' Minji to leave school As per the fan-written post, NewJeans' leader and eldest member Minji was forced to give up on education by Source Music, a HYBE subsidiary. Source Music, which houses artists like LE SSERAFIM and GFRIEND, were responsible for the management of NewJeans' pre-debut lineup. During then, they allegedly made Minji undergo arduous training and asked her to quit school, probably to be able to dedicate more time to her K-pop trainee life. They were also accused of leaving her hanging for several years without any solid debut plans. As per the post, Minji's mother shared how her daughter faced a harsh schedule while living in an unhealthy condition of a cockroach-infested dorm as a trainee. Yet, thankfully, the artist balanced both studies and her idol career. HYBE accused of forcing Youngseo to leave ILLIT A classmate of former ILLIT member Youngseo alleged that it was not her own wish, instead the company's pressure that made her leave the group. For those unfamiliar with Youngseo, she was originally part of the final lineup of ILLIT but opted out last minute for undisclosed reasons. As per the source, HYBE forced her to leave ILLIT, citing her education as a hindrance to her K-pop idol career. They claimed to have known from mutual friends that parting ways with ILLIT, "really wasn't her (Youngseo's) decision." These incidents brought back talks of similar accusations in the past, including NewJeans claiming that their shared information with the company-provided psychologists used them against them. NewJeans past claims of being scared on their trainee vidos gettig leaked also resurfaced. These shed light on how gruelling lives of K-pop trainees actually are.
Straits Times
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Court orders K-pop girl group NewJeans to pay agency Ador $933,000 for each unauthorised activity
K-pop girl band NewJeans began independent activities after ending their contracts with the K-pop agency in November 2024, citing a breach of exclusivity. PHOTO: REUTERS SEOUL – South Korea's Seoul Central District Court has ruled that each member of NewJeans, the K-pop girl group under Hybe subsidiary Ador, must pay one billion won (S$933,000) to the agency for every entertainment activity carried out without its prior consent. The quintet – made up of members Minji, Danielle, Haerin, Hanni and Hyein – began independent activities after ending their contracts with the K-pop agency in November 2024, citing a breach of exclusivity. In January, Ador filed an injunction to block the group's solo activities and assert its role as NewJeans' management agency. According to a South Korean report, the Seoul court on May 29 accepted Ador's request for an indirect compulsory execution, a legal mechanism used to pressure a party to comply with a court order by imposing monetary penalties for non-compliance. 'Since NewJeans violated the obligations set by the injunction by performing under a new group name and even releasing new songs before and after the injunction ruling, it is necessary to impose indirect compulsory enforcement to ensure compliance with the order,' the court ruled. 'If the debtors violate these obligations from the date they receive the official copy of this decision, they must pay one billion won per violation to the creditor,' it added. The ruling does not apply retrospectively, sparing the five members from owing billions of won for unauthorised activities they have undertaken since unilaterally declaring their exclusive contracts to be terminated. 'Until a verdict on the first trial on the ongoing lawsuit regarding the validity of NewJeans' exclusive contracts is delivered, the members are prohibited from engaging in any entertainment-related activities without Ador's prior approval,' the court stated. In March, the same court sided with Ador in a preliminary injunction that barred NewJeans from signing individual endorsement or entertainment deals outside the agency's purview, further reinforcing the label's legal position in the ongoing conflict. NewJeans rebranded themselves as NJZ in February before the ruling. After the ruling in March, they performed at music festival ComplexCon in Hong Kong and debuted a new song, Pit Stop. They then announced onstage they would go on hiatus out of respect for the court decision. The second hearing in the ongoing main lawsuit to determine the validity of the contracts is scheduled for June 5. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
News18
31-05-2025
- 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:
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
NewJeans vs ADOR: NJZ's repeated defiance of court ruling could cost them a hefty fee
The South Korean courts appear increasingly frustrated with NewJeans—also known as NJZ—for repeatedly violating legal rulings. The group, consisting of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, have continued to defy court orders despite ongoing legal proceedings. Since 2024, the group has been embroiled in a protracted legal battle with their agency, ADOR. On March 21, the court sided with ADOR, granting the agency's request to prohibit NewJeans from independently signing promotional or advertising contracts. When NJZ filed an objection, it was dismissed on April 21, reaffirming the original injunction. Despite the ruling in ADOR's favour, the members appear to have continued violating the court's directive—a move that has not been well received by the judiciary. On May 30, the Seoul Central District Court's 52nd Civil Division once again ruled in favour of ADOR, partially granting another injunction that prohibits the members from engaging in any entertainment activities independently or through third parties—unless they receive prior approval from the agency. What did the court say? According to the court, "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." To reinforce the injunction, the court introduced a penalty clause that could prove extremely costly. If the members violate the order, NewJeans will have to pay ₩1 billion KRW (approximately $730,000 USD) per violation to ADOR, in addition to covering legal expenses related to the application. This clause applies collectively, meaning the fine could multiply rapidly if violations are repeated or involve multiple members. The ruling aims to preserve the existing contractual relationship between NewJeans and ADOR while the broader lawsuit over the exclusive contract's validity proceeds. The court emphasized maintaining the "status quo" until a first-instance verdict is reached, especially as tensions between the two parties continue to escalate. Why is NewJeans defying the court orders? Despite these decisions, NewJeans maintains that the contract should be terminated, citing a breakdown in trust with the agency. ADOR, on the other hand, is pursuing a separate legal case to confirm the ongoing validity of the exclusive contract. The second oral hearing in the main lawsuit between ADOR and NewJeans is scheduled for June 5, and the outcome could significantly impact the group's future and their ability to promote freely. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
News18
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Minji Writes Emotional Note On Her Birthday Amid NewJeans' Legal Dispute
Last Updated: The group is currently in the middle of a legal dispute with ADOR and its parent company, HYBE, due to contract issues. NewJeans' member Minji recently turned 21. The singer took to social media to share an emotional and heartfelt note with her fans on May 7. In the letter, Minji talked about her current state of mind, expressed her emotions, and thanked fans for their support. Minji's candid letter comes at a time when the group, NewJeans, is facing some challenges. Minji took to the group's social media account to share the letter. The K-pop idol started the letter by addressing her loyal fans, the Bunnies. She then explained to her fans why she had been inactive in recent times. 'I think I've been living a busier life than I realized," she wrote, highlighting that she almost forgot her own birthday. The singer went on to explain that although she had so much to talk about, she was not able to organise her thoughts because her mind was 'cluttered." She then began to highlight the importance of being happy, stating that all she wanted from life was to be happy and to see everyone else happy. 'Chasing only my own happiness by doing what I love may seem naïve to some, but I want today and tomorrow to be happy. I wish the same for your days too, Bunnies," Minji wrote. Minji recalled old times when she could connect with her fans through good music and shared thoughts. She promised that despite the current situation, she had no plans of putting an end to her career, and she'd be back with NewJeans soon. NewJeans is currently in the middle of a legal dispute with ADOR and its parent company, HYBE, as the group attempted to break free from their contract. The court initially ruled against the group and has forbidden the members from pursuing any independent careers. The K-pop group NewJeans consists of five members, including Minji, Danielle, Hanni, Hyein, and Haerin. The group made its debut in 2022 with their single Attention. First Published: May 09, 2025, 11:24 IST
