NewJeans Contract Dispute: Ador Wins Temporary Injunction, ComplexCon Hong Kong Show to Proceed
A Seoul court has granted Ador's injunction request against NewJeans/NJZ, preventing the K-pop group from conducting professional activities without the Hybe-owned agency's involvement.
Portrait of K-pop singer Hyein
The dispute began when NewJeans (recently rebranded as NJZ) attempted to terminate their contract with Hybe/Ador in February, citing contractual violations. Hybe contests these allegations and maintains the original agreement remains valid.
Key Developments:
- Ador has launched multiple legal actions, including a lawsuit challenging the contract termination
- A hearing for the main contract-termination lawsuit is scheduled for April 3rd
- NewJeans/NJZ plans to appeal the injunction ruling
- The group will proceed with their March 23rd ComplexCon Hong Kong performance
Regarding ComplexCon, Ador has agreed to provide "full on-site support" for the concert, with the group performing under their original name "NewJeans, an artist under Ador." The group stated their decision to proceed was made "out of respect for our fans and all stakeholders involved."
NewJeans' legal team emphasizes that unlike the injunction proceedings, the main lawsuit will allow them to "freely utilize civil procedure tools to collect necessary evidence," potentially strengthening their position.
The upcoming April 3rd hearing could have significant implications for the K-pop industry, particularly regarding artist contracts and talent management practices.