Just as the year-long contract dispute between NewJeans and their agency ADOR finally calmed, a new controversy has emerged—this time sparked not by the artists, but by some fans.
A wave of fan-filed complaints sent to Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) claims that ADOR has “mistreated” or “failed to protect” their artists. Because the complaints were officially submitted, the ministry now plans to meet with both ADOR and the NewJeans members to verify the allegations.
From November 16th to 17th, the minister’s office reportedly received a large volume of faxes accusing ADOR of “harassing NewJeans,” “colluding with media to create hostile narratives,” or “favoring Haerin and Hyein, causing discord.” Some petitions were also delivered directly to lawmakers on the National Assembly’s Culture Committee—raising concerns of a repeat of last year’s televised audit, where HYBE executives and member Hanni were dragged into the political spotlight.
An MCST official confirmed, “Because these are formal complaints, we must review them and conduct interviews to establish the facts,” adding that the ministry must first determine whether meeting with the members is even feasible. ADOR will soon be notified to coordinate scheduling, though the scope and intensity of the review remain undecided.
Industry insiders worry the inquiry could chill the fragile reconciliation between ADOR and NewJeans, who resolved their dispute after the October court ruling confirmed the validity of the exclusive contracts through 2029. All five members declined to appeal, finalizing the judgment.
Some observers are questioning the motives behind the complaints. Two members—Hyein and Haerin—returned to ADOR through mutual agreement, while Minji, Hanni and Danielle conveyed their return through legal representatives. One industry figure suggested that “without direct negotiation with the agency, filing outside pressure could be a tactic to strengthen their bargaining position.”
Others argue the bigger issue is that third-party fan claims—not the members themselves—have triggered a government probe that could again expose the artists to public scrutiny. As one insider noted, “Fans need to think carefully about whether their actions truly protect the idols they love—or end up harming them.”
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