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Shortly after the press conference, ADOR released a statement denying any wrongdoing and reaffirming the validity of the contract.
The relationship between K-pop powerhouse NewJeans and their agency, ADOR, has taken a dramatic turn. On November 28, the five-member girl group made headlines by holding an emergency press conference in Samseong-dong, Seoul, where they mentioned that they were terminating their exclusive contract with ADOR. This decision came after a long-standing dispute with the agency, leaving fans and the entertainment industry abuzz with speculation.
During the press conference, each member—Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein—voiced their concerns. Hanni reportedly opened up about the alleged mistreatment they faced at the hands of ADOR, while Danielle offered insights into the group’s future plans following their departure. The group explained that they had sent a certification of contents to ADOR on November 13, demanding that the agency address significant breaches in their exclusive contract within 14 days. The members said that ADOR had failed to meet these demands, prompting their decision to end the agreement as of midnight KST on November 29, reports Koreaboo.
ADOR, on the other hand, seemed blindsided by the announcement. Shortly after the press conference, the agency released its own statement, denying any wrongdoing and reaffirming the validity of the contract. ADOR expressed regret over the group’s unilateral decision to hold a press conference without fully reviewing the agency’s response to their certification of contents.
Their statement reportedly read, “It is regretful that the members planned and carried out the press conference for the dissolution of their exclusive contracts before even receiving and sufficiently examining our reply to their certification of contents. As the relevant party to the exclusive contract, ADOR did not violate the contract, and their one-sided claims that the trust has been broken cannot be a valid reason for voiding the contract. The contract between ADOR and NewJeans is still very much valid. As such, we hope that NewJeans will be with ADOR for their future schedules as they have previously.”
It further read, “We have continuously asked to meet with the members multiple times, but it has not happened. Even now, we hope that we can meet with open hearts for a deep conversation. ADOR supports our artist NewJeans and their promotions and will do our best so that they can continue to grow as a global artist.”
Meanwhile, In their official statement, NewJeans had earlier said, “The reason we are leaving ADOR is very simple. ADOR neither has the will nor the ability to protect NewJeans. If we remain here, it will be a waste of our time, and our mental distress will continue.” They further emphasised their disappointment with the agency’s “insincere attitude,” claiming that their repeated attempts to express their concerns had been ignored. Despite the contract termination, NewJeans assured fans they would fulfil previously scheduled activities and expressed their commitment to maintaining the group’s core identity, even if they had to operate under a different name for the time being.
The growing tension between NewJeans and ADOR can be traced back to the departure of Min Hee Jin, a key figure in the group’s management and ongoing disputes with HYBE, ADOR’s parent company.