NewJeans Files Objection to Injunction Against 'Independent Activities'... Court Hearing on April 9

ADOR's Injunction Request to Prohibit NewJeans' Independent Activities Approved
Opposing Party Can Appeal Only After Filing an Objection

Girl group NewJeans, currently in a contract dispute with ADOR, will have a hearing next month for their objection to the court's ruling prohibiting independent activities. Previously, the court accepted ADOR's injunction request.

NewJeans (NJZ) answering questions after court appearance. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the legal community on the 26th, the Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 50 (Chief Presiding Judge Kim Sang-hoon) will hold a hearing on April 9 for the injunction objection filed by the five NewJeans members. The NewJeans members submitted their objection on the 21st, the same day the injunction was granted.

The court had earlier accepted ADOR's injunction request against NewJeans, ordering a full injunction to preserve the agency's status and prohibit the signing of advertising contracts. The court stated, "The five NewJeans members must not engage in entertainment activities on their own (including through legal representatives) or through third parties without ADOR's prior approval or consent," adding, "If the trust relationship between the contracting parties is broken, the entertainer may terminate the exclusive contract. However, the party claiming the termination of the contract must prove that the circumstances have reached a level making it difficult to maintain the contractual relationship."

The party who files the injunction can immediately appeal to the second instance if the injunction is dismissed. However, the opposing party can only appeal if their objection is rejected. If an objection is filed against the court's injunction approval, the court will re-examine the case.

Earlier, the five NewJeans members announced in November last year that their contract with ADOR was terminated due to breach of exclusive contract, subsequently changing their team name to NJZ and starting independent activities.

In response, ADOR filed an injunction request in January to prevent the NewJeans members from independently signing advertising contracts. ADOR later expanded the injunction request to prohibit NewJeans from engaging in entertainment activities including songwriting, composing, and singing.