A major legal battle is unfolding between K-pop group NewJeans and their management company Ador, following the group's attempt to terminate their contract. Ador has filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court to enforce the contract, which they maintain is valid until 2029.

The dispute stems from the dismissal of former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin, whom Hybe accused of attempting to separate NewJeans from the company. NewJeans' members, who have worked with Min since their debut, demanded her reinstatement and announced their departure from Hybe/Ador during a recent press conference.

Min denies orchestrating NewJeans' contract termination and has filed defamation complaints against former Hybe CEO Park Ji-won, PR head Park Tae-hee, and two reporters. She alleges they illegally obtained and manipulated private conversations to generate negative media coverage.

Ador's statement emphasizes that they pursued legal action to:

• Confirm the contract's validity
• Prevent unilateral termination
• Protect industry trust relationships
• Preserve K-pop's cultural foundation

The Korea Management Association has publicly backed Ador in this dispute. Meanwhile, Hybe chairman Bang Si-hyuk faces separate scrutiny from the Financial Supervisory Service regarding alleged collusion with private equities before Hybe's 2020 IPO.

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