ADOR v. NewJeans: Lawsuit to Confirm Validity of Exclusive Contract – First Trial Ruling Date

The 41st Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jung Hoe-il) ruled in favor of the plaintiff (ADOR) in the lawsuit filed by ADOR against the five NewJeans members (Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein) to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract.

Hello, this is Shin & Kim LLC, the legal representatives for Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein (hereinafter referred to as “the Members”).

Today, the Seoul Central District Court issued its first instance ruling in the lawsuit filed by ADOR Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “ADOR”) against the Members to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract, ruling that the exclusive contract is valid.

While the Members respect the court’s judgment, their position is that returning to ADOR and continuing normal entertainment activities is impossible in the current situation where trust with ADOR has been completely broken.

Accordingly, the Members plan to immediately appeal the first instance ruling and hope that the appellate court will comprehensively review the factual circumstances and legal principles regarding the termination of the exclusive contract once again and deliver a wise judgment.

Lastly, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the fans who have been waiting and supporting us for a long time.

Today, the court ruled in the lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract between our company and our artist NewJeans that the exclusive contract between both parties remains valid.

The court determined that our company has not violated any obligations as a management company, and that attempts to escape from the exclusive contract by creating the appearance of a breakdown in trust should not be permitted.

We deeply appreciate the court’s decision.

Since the artist’s claim to terminate the exclusive contract in November of last year, our company has carefully responded while watching with a heavy heart a series of proceedings including the main lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract, the injunction application to prevent confusion until the main ruling, the court’s decision granting the injunction, the artist’s immediate appeal, and the decision dismissing that appeal.

Over the course of nearly one year, the court has repeatedly ruled in various related lawsuits that our company holds the position of management company under the exclusive contract, and that the artists must conduct entertainment activities together with our company.

We sincerely hope that today’s result, where various claims and factual circumstances have been verified over a long period and another ruling with the same purport has been issued, will serve as an opportunity for the artists to calmly reflect on this matter.

Our company will also once again take to heart the role and duties of a management company required under the exclusive contract. As we stated during the main trial proceedings, we have completed preparations for activities including the release of a full-length album and are waiting. We will do our best to return to the fans through discussions with the artists.