NewJeans and ADOR Face Off in Closed-Door Mediation Today Amidst Contract Dispute and Bullying Allegations

The ongoing exclusive contract dispute between K-pop group NewJeans and their agency ADOR takes a pivotal turn today (14th), as both parties attend a closed-door mediation session.

The Civil Settlement Division 41 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jeong Hoe-il) is set to hold a mediation hearing on the 14th regarding ADOR's lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contracts with all five NewJeans members—Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein. This mediation will proceed privately, away from the public eye.

NewJeans declared their intention to terminate their contracts last November, citing a breakdown of trust. In response, ADOR filed a lawsuit seeking confirmation of the contract's validity and requested an injunction to prohibit the members from acting independently or signing advertising contracts. The court granted all of ADOR’s injunction requests, leaving NewJeans unable to pursue any independent activities. Since their Hong Kong performance, the group has suspended all activities.

At the third hearing on the 24th of last month, both sides remained at an impasse. ADOR maintained, "The claim that the company provided any significant cause for contract termination is untrue. ADOR has provided ample opportunities for entertainment activities and has fulfilled all profit settlements faithfully."

Meanwhile, NewJeans' side refused to return to ADOR, stating that during the audit and resignation process of former CEO Min Hee-jin, the members received no protection.

The members also submitted a petition, stating, “Telling us to return to ADOR is the same as telling victims of school violence to go back to their abuser. The staff who supported us have already left, and ADOR is not sincerely listening to our voices. We wonder how much louder we have to cry out for our pain to be recognized."

As a result, the court scheduled today's closed-door mediation and requested the attendance of the NewJeans members themselves. There is growing interest in whether the members, who all attended the injunction hearing in March regarding the prohibition of independent activities and advertising contracts, will appear in court again today.

If mediation is successful, it will carry the same legal weight as a court settlement. If not, a verdict is scheduled for October 30.

Photo Credit: Xportsnews

This article is a translated version of the original Korean article published by Xportsnews, originally written by Jo Hyejin. This article was translated from Korean using AI-assisted tools and human review to deliver an accurate and culturally appropriate version for international readers.