Chart-topping K-pop group NewJeans could be prevented from signing advertising and other deals after their record company filed an injunction against them.
The five-piece group is currently in a heated dispute with Adora, the entertainment company that founded their band in 2022.
Last November, the group claimed their contracts were invalid due to what they said was a pattern of bullying, harassment and fraud at the company. Ador, who denied the allegations, sued seeking confirmation of his contracts.
The company now accuses NewJeans of trying to sign independent contracts without its approval and has taken further legal action in Seoul, South Korea.
“This decision was made to prevent confusion and potential harm to third parties, including advertisers,” Ador explained in a statement.
The agency also warned that there could be wider consequences for South Korea’s lucrative music industry if NewJeans’ actions go unchecked.
“Allowing unilateral termination of exclusive contracts and independent activities without legal proceedings could undermine investment in the entertainment industry and destabilize the K-pop sector,” Ador said in the injunction request, according to Yonhap news agency.
NewJeans were considered one of the brightest new bands in K-pop, thanks to their playful mix of 1990s R&B and sugary pop tunes.
In 2023, they were the eighth best-selling artist in the world. Last year they picked up a nomination for the best group at the MTV awards.
But their relationship with Adora soured after parent company Hybe reportedly fired their mentor, Min Hee-Jin.
The band issued an ultimatum demanding that Min be reinstated. When Hybe refused, the group went public with a series of complaints against the label, including claims that Hybe had deliberately undermined their career.
At a press conference last November, the five members – Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein – announced their departure from the company, saying that Hybe and Ador had lost the right to represent them as artists.
They subsequently filed court papers seeking legal separation from the agency, but the case has yet to be heard.
Ador claims that the contract with the band, which runs until 2027, should be upheld.
The label has already finalized Friday’s schedule for the next 12 months, which includes releasing a new album and holding fan meetings, among other activities.
However, the band members continued to assert their independence, opening a new Instagram account under the name “jeansforfree“, where they held regular live broadcasts with fans.
The band says they will fight to keep their name and their career, and that they will remain “NewJeans at heart” even if they lose that fight.
It’s not the first time a K-pop band has tried to break a contract.
Popular groups TVXQ and Fifty Fifty took their respective record companies to court – but the cases had different results, resulting in both bands’ line-ups changing.
The biggest problem facing NewJeans is that their case against Ador could take two or three years to resolve if it goes to trial. During this time, it is unlikely that they will be able to record or promote new music, unless the projects are created in collaboration with the label.
If the court eventually finds Hybe guilty, the members will be able to leave – and maybe even keep the band name.
But if the decision goes against the band, they could face a fine.
It’s in October K-pop news site Koreaboo rated that members would have to pay around 300 billion South Korean won (around £170m) to terminate their contract early.
