Five Members Demand Correction of "Exclusive Contract Violations" by Real Name
Urge Apology for "Ignore" Remarks... Regarding Family-Related Rumors, "NewJeans Is Not Involved"
On the 13th, it was confirmed that the group NewJeans, currently in conflict with their agency ADOR following the dismissal of former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, sent a certified letter to the agency stating, "If the demands for correction, including the reinstatement of former CEO Min, are not accepted, we will terminate the exclusive contract."
As a result, the 'ADOR incident,' which was triggered by an audit targeting former CEO Min and others in April, has reached a turning point as it expands into a potential exclusive contract dispute.
According to the music industry on the 13th, NewJeans sent the certified letter to ADOR under the real names of the five members: Kim Min-ji, Hani Pham, Marshmello Daniel, Kang Hae-rin, and Lee Hye-in.
In the certified letter, the members demanded, "Within 14 days from the date of receipt of this letter, correct all the serious violations of the exclusive contract mentioned herein."
Earlier, after the 'ADOR incident' surfaced in April, NewJeans included various controversies that arose as part of their correction demands.
First, NewJeans pointed out, "HYBE (ADOR's parent company) made a decision that 'it’s a matter of abandoning New (referring to NewJeans) and reorganizing anew,' and as NewJeans' management company, take all necessary measures." They added, "Among HYBE's music industry reports (internal monitoring documents) confirmed during the recent National Assembly audit, there was a phrase stating, 'We suffered for days over the wording of NewAR (NewJeans, I-LAND, LE SSERAFIM), but it’s a matter of abandoning New and reorganizing anew."
They further demanded, "Clearly identify who decided and instructed to abandon NewJeans, ADOR's only artist, and who committed any misconduct following that instruction. Take civil and criminal actions against any illegal acts such as breach of trust discovered in the process. Prepare and provide NewJeans with audit reports and reports on personnel actions related to all these matters."
Additionally, NewJeans urged ADOR to provide ▲ an official apology from the manager who told Hani to 'ignore it' ▲ deletion of videos and photos used without consent ▲ assessment and resolution of damages caused by 'album pushing' ▲ resolution of disputes with director Shin Woo-seok of Dolphin Kidnapper and issues related to the disappearance of existing works ▲ protection of NewJeans' unique color and works.
Finally, NewJeans asserted the demand for "the reinstatement of former CEO Min Hee-jin."
NewJeans emphasized, "Please allow former CEO Min Hee-jin to be in charge of ADOR's management and NewJeans' producing as before. Restore ADOR to the state it was when NewJeans signed the exclusive contract and happily and joyfully carried out activities until March 2024. We miss NewJeans, who were full of dreams with the music, stages, and new and creative activities to be shown together with former CEO Min."
The five members expressed their consent to the matter by signing the last page of the certified letter themselves.
NewJeans stated, "If ADOR does not accept the correction demands, we will proceed with terminating the exclusive contract." They also clarified, "There are baseless rumors circulating about the families and relatives of NewJeans members, but NewJeans has no connection to such rumors."
They added, "If there are those who spread false rumors to defame NewJeans, we will respond firmly."
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