ADOR Hopes NewJeans Will "Return to Their Original Positions" After Appeal Dismissal

The group NewJeans is answering reporters' questions as they leave the courthouse after the hearing date for the provisional injunction application for 'Preservation of agency status and prohibition of advertising contract conclusion' held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul last March. Photo by Yonhap News

After the appeal against the decision to uphold the ban on independent activities by the group NewJeans was dismissed, their agency ADOR expressed hope that the members would return to their original positions.

On the 18th, ADOR stated, "Yesterday, there was a decision in the appellate court once again clearly confirming that ADOR is the agency of NewJeans," and added, "We deeply appreciate the court's judgment." The agency continued, "As NewJeans marks its third debut anniversary next month, we will do our utmost to help the group achieve even greater progress and growth."

The Seoul High Court Civil Division 25-2 (Presiding Judges Hwang Byungha, Jung Jonggwan, and Lee Gyunyong) on the 17th dismissed the appeal filed by the five members of NewJeans against the provisional injunction decision for 'Preservation of agency status and prohibition of advertising contract conclusion.' Previously, in March, the court accepted ADOR's application and ruled that NewJeans members could not engage in activities such as signing advertising contracts without the agency's approval. The court stated, "Even after reviewing the submitted evidence, the previous decision is deemed appropriate."

Accordingly, all entertainment activities conducted without ADOR's consent, including songwriting, composing, performing, singing, appearing on broadcasts, participating in events, signing advertising contracts, and engaging in commercial activities based on their status and authorization as popular culture artists, have been effectively prohibited.

The Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 52 (Presiding Judge Heo Kyungmoo) also granted the indirect compulsory enforcement application filed by ADOR on May 29. The court ruled that if NewJeans engages in independent activities without an agreement with ADOR, each member must pay 1 billion KRW per instance, and if all five members act together, a penalty of 5 billion KRW per instance will be imposed.