The second round of mediation between NewJeans and ADOR has officially collapsed, pushing the high-profile legal dispute toward a decisive court ruling. After only 20 minutes of talks on September 10, lawyers for both sides left without reaching an agreement. With no resolution in mediation, the Seoul court will now deliver a verdict on October 30 regarding the validity of the group’s exclusive contract with ADOR.
The breakdown marks the latest chapter in an increasingly bitter standoff that has shaken the K-pop industry. In August, ADOR removed all references to NewJeans—who have recently been performing under the name NJZ—from its official website. The move came less than a year after the label’s founding CEO and NewJeans’ creative director, Min Hee-jin, was ousted from her position, sparking a legal and creative crisis that has yet to stabilize.
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ADOR’s decision to erase the group from its platforms followed a preliminary injunction that temporarily blocked NewJeans from moving forward under the NJZ branding. The injunction itself is part of the wider HYBE–ADOR conflict that began when HYBE’s board accused Min of attempting to seize control of the sub-label. Min’s removal in August 2024 was immediately met with backlash from NewJeans, who publicly demanded her reinstatement in a livestream that drew international attention.
By November 2024, the conflict had reached breaking point. In a dramatic emergency press conference, NewJeans announced their departure from ADOR, citing what they described as repeated contract violations and a toxic work environment. The members claimed they had faced mismanagement, discriminatory treatment, and interference from staff at other HYBE subsidiaries. They also accused ADOR of prioritizing profit over their creative vision.
Since their 2022 debut, NewJeans have become one of K-pop’s fastest-rising global acts. Their 2023 EP Get Up debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, powered by hits like “Ditto” and “Super Shy.” Despite the turmoil, the group has remained steadfast in their message to fans: they will “never give up the name NewJeans.”
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