Court affirms the Adore–NewJeans exclusive contract and rejects claims that Min Hee-jin’s firing breached the agreement or dissolved trust

The Seoul Central District Court, Civil Division 41, ruled on October 30 that Adore’s lawsuit demanding a declaration of the contract’s validity against NewJeans’ five members should be upheld, with Adore prevailing on all claims. Adore won the case, and NewJeans faced a defeat. The court rejected NewJeans’ arguments that Min Hee-jin’s dismissal constituted a breach of the contract and that a breakdown in trust between the parties justified termination of the agreement.

The bench stated that merely dismissing Min Hee-jin would not automatically jeopardize NewJeans’ management, indicating that Adore’s management plan and capabilities were not found lacking. It also noted that while a replacement for Min Hee-jin was not appointed for several months, this did not prove a breach of the contract.

The ruling thus supports Adore’s position in the main dispute, with the court finding that the evidence did not establish grounds for contract termination based on breach or loss of trust. The decision implies tighter control over NewJeans’ independent activities during the contract period, requiring Adore’s approval for certain actions.