There is speculation that New Jeans may file a lawsuit against HYBE to terminate their contract, just like the approach that was taken by TVXQ's to end their contract with SM Entertainment.
According to legal sources on May 1st, ADOR plans to hold a board and shareholders meeting later this month. On the previous day, attorney Lee Sokyun, representing ADOR, met with reporters after the hearing for shareholders meeting permit application at the Seoul Western District Court. Lee announced, "The board meeting will be held by May 10th, and the shareholders meeting will take place by the end of May."
Earlier, HYBE had announced plans to hold a shareholders meeting to dismiss Min Heejin as the CEO of ADOR. HYBE and Min Heejin have each appointed attorneys specializing in mergers and acquisitions to prepare for intense legal battles. There are speculations that this lawsuit could involve hundreds of billions won.
In the industry, people are watching to see what choices New Jeans' members will make. If HYBE and Min Heejin reach an agreement and maintain their contract, it's unlikely that New Jeans will cancel their contract with HYBE. However, if HYBE gains the upper hand and successfully removes Min Heejin, the whole situation will change. According to Min Heejin, New Jeans' members are really close to her. They even cried and called her when they heard she was facing the risk of dismissal, even offered to explain directly through their fan communication application. "Given the situation, it's possible that New Jeans may file for an injunction lawsuit to terminate their contract with HYBE, siding with Min Heejin."
Previously, TVXQ filed an injunction lawsuit against SM Entertainment in 2009. At that time, three members of TVXQ (Xiah Junsu, Hero Jaejoong, and Mickey Yoochun) emphasized the unfairness, stating that "A 13-year contract is essentially a lifetime contract." The court partially accepted their request. Interestingly, this case was also handled by the same law firm that handles HYBE-ADOR dispute.
If New Jeans were to make a similar decision as TVXQ, the main issue would be whether if HYBE treated them unfairly, just like what Min Heejin claimed. It's also important to determine if it can be proven that the contract was so disadvantageous as to warrant its cancellation.
However, even if an injunction is filed, as in the case of TVXQ, if some members of the group do not agree to the injunction, in the worst case scenario, the situation could escalate to the point of the group splitting up.
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