Seoul, South Korea – Amidst escalating tensions in the K-pop industry, South Korean girl group NewJeans has publicly announced the termination of their exclusive contract with ADOR, a subsidiary of the entertainment giant HYBE, on grounds of alleged mismanagement and unfair treatment. This bold move follows ADOR’s legal action seeking to enforce the contract.
NewJeans, consisting of members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, asserted their decision was driven by unresolved contract violations by ADOR, including claims of defamation, mishandling by the management, and privacy invasions. According to the group, these actions have significantly breached their trust and the terms of their agreement.
The five artists claim to have observed detrimental changes in the management’s approach following ADOR’s internal shuffle, which saw its former CEO being reported to authorities. The group highlighted these alterations as further justification for their contract termination. They also allege that despite their commercial success, HYBE and ADOR continued to prioritize recovery of their investment over the artists’ welfare and the fulfillment of their contractual obligations.
In a detailed statement, NewJeans expressed dissatisfaction with the label’s failure to rectify the cited violations within a stipulated 14-day grace period, leading them to proceed with the termination. The artists conveyed that this decision was also motivated by the inappropriate treatment of their immediate support staff by ADOR and HYBE.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, NewJeans plans to fulfill their pre-existing commitments, including prominent year-end performances at events such as the 2024 SBS Gayo Daejeon alongside other K-pop luminaries like NCT 127 and Stray Kids.
Looking forward, the group expressed hope that the court proceedings would illuminate both the reasons behind their contract termination and the extent of ADOR’s alleged breaches of contract. They remain firm on their stance of no longer being associated with ADOR as of November 29, 2024, underlining their independence and unity as a group amidst these challenges.
The situation has sparked significant attention both domestically and internationally, spotlighting the often-criticized aspects of the K-pop industry related to artist management and contractual disputes.
As proceedings continue, NewJeans’ situation is poised to potentially set precedents concerning artist-label relations within the South Korean entertainment industry.
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