"Temporary Resolution" After a Year-Long Legal Dispute
NewJeans, the group that expressed their intention to return one year after their exclusive contract dispute, has entered into individual meetings with their agency ADOR, marking a new phase in the situation. Following Haerin and Hyein, who first conveyed their intention to return to ADOR, Minji, Hanni, and Danielle have also announced their decision to rejoin the agency.
On the 13th, ADOR stated, "We are coordinating individual meeting schedules with the members and will do our best to ensure the discussions proceed smoothly."
According to the music industry, on the 11th, four members of NewJeans and their guardians met with ADOR CEO Lee Dokyeong in Korea and communicated their requirements regarding their return. While ADOR acknowledged that the meeting took place, the agency did not disclose the details of the discussions.
On the following day, the 12th, just one day before the appeal deadline, the members announced their intention to return. Through ADOR, Haerin and Hyein declared, "We will comply with the exclusive contract and continue our activities," expressing their intention to return.
Approximately two hours and forty minutes later, Minji, Hanni, and Danielle issued a separate statement to notify the agency of their decision to return. The three members explained, "Since we did not receive a response from ADOR regarding the matters conveyed after the meeting on the 11th, we had no choice but to issue a separate statement." In response, ADOR maintained a cautious stance, saying, "We are currently confirming their true intentions."
If no appeal is filed by midnight on the 14th in the lawsuit filed by ADOR to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract with NewJeans, the first trial verdict will become final. If there is no appeal, the judgment that "the exclusive contract is valid" will stand as is, and since all members have chosen to return, the likelihood of an appeal being filed has decreased.
In November last year, NewJeans declared their separation from ADOR, claiming a breach of the exclusive contract, and ADOR responded by filing a lawsuit to confirm the contract's validity and an injunction to prohibit independent activities. Although the members mentioned the possibility of an appeal immediately after the verdict, it appears they decided to return, considering that the court's decision was unlikely to be overturned and to avoid the losses and public burden associated with a prolonged legal battle.
ADOR has previously stated that preparations to resume activities, including a full album, have been completed. However, as internal trust still needs to be restored, further coordination will be inevitable before all five members can return as a complete group.
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