As NewJeans’ five members announce plans to terminate their exclusive contracts with ADOR and pursue independent activities, the agency has issued its official response. On November 29th, ADOR’s reply was made public, adding further complexity to the escalating dispute.
ADOR began its statement by asserting the validity of NewJeans’ contracts, which are set to remain in effect until July 31st, 2029. “We are deeply saddened by the current developments,” the agency wrote. “We genuinely hope to hold necessary discussions with the artists to plan next year’s activities, but we have been unable to secure the opportunity.”
>> NewJeans Announce Termination of Exclusive Contract With ADOR, Sparks Market Concerns
The agency also addressed allegations of breach of contract, stating, “Just because our efforts didn’t align with the artists’ subjective expectations doesn’t constitute a violation. Many of the issues they raise stem from the actions of third parties, not ADOR.” In its defense, ADOR expressed skepticism about the legal basis for the artists’ claims. “Legally speaking, it’s unclear whether ADOR’s actions constitute grounds for contract termination or whether their demands align with such terms,” the agency said.
ADOR went on to address NewJeans’ concerns over an internal HYBE weekly report that allegedly stated, “We can just drop (NewJeans) and start fresh”: “That report was created by HYBE, not us. We requested an explanation from HYBE, and they confirmed that the document does not reflect an intent to abandon NewJeans nor any specific decisions or directives.”
Regarding the claims of dismissive remarks a manager from HYBE’s BELIFT LAB said to Hanni, ADOR shared, “We consulted a law firm, which determined that BELIFT LAB’s statement does not constitute defamation. This was also explained to their parents.” ADOR added that CCTV footage of the incident in question no longer exists, clarifying that legal experts found no grounds for evidence tampering or related criminal charges.
On allegations of unauthorized releases of photos and videos from NewJeans’ trainee days, ADOR explained, “We have made active efforts to investigate the leaks. If the artists choose to pursue lawsuits over violations of their portrait rights, we will provide the necessary resources to support them.”
As for accusations of “chart manipulation” against NewJeans, ADOR responded, “The exact nature of the alleged manipulation is unclear. However, at the time, HYBE confirmed that no such activity occurred. While HYBE has made efforts to address misunderstandings, we will also take a more proactive approach in clarifying the artists’ achievements moving forward.”
ADOR concluded by emphasizing its desire for resolution. “We sincerely hope this will clear up misunderstandings. Our silence thus far was intended to protect the artists’ image. We believe open discussions are better handled privately to safeguard their reputation and interests. We ask the artists to seriously consider a direct and honest dialogue to reach a resolution.”
At a press conference the previous day, Minju stated, “They’re not interested in making improvements—all we heard were lies and excuses. This stalling and evasive response has always been how they’ve treated us. We don’t want to waste any more of our precious time.” She confirmed, “Since our demands have not been addressed, we will proceed with terminating our contracts as planned once midnight on the 29th passes.”
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