The court is set to deliver a ruling on the contract dispute between NewJeans and ADOR today, October 30.
The Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 41 will announce its verdict at 9:50 AM today in the lawsuit filed by ADOR against the five NewJeans member to confirm that their exclusive contracts are valid.
The court previously attempted mediation twice in August and September, but since both sides failed to reach an agreement, the case will be closed with today's verdict.
Last November, NewJeans claimed that ADOR had violated their exclusive contract, declaring that the contract had been terminated and announced their plans to pursue independent activities.
In response, ADOR filed a lawsuit in December, arguing that the contracts were still valid. They also filed an injunction to prevent the members from pursuing individual activities until a final ruling was made.
The court granted ADOR's injunction, but NewJeans objected and even appealed the decision, but was dismissed. As a result, they are restricted from any independent activities without ADOR's prior approval until the final verdict today.
In May, the court also approved ADOR's request for a indirect compulsory order, ruling that if NewJeans engages in an independent activities, each member would have to pay 1 billion KRW to ADOR per violation.
In this main lawsuit, both sides argued over whether the exclusive contracts are stil valid and whether there are legitimate reason to terminate the contract.
ADOR claims, "The exclusive contract with the company is still valid and the company have fully supported them. There is absolutely no reason to terminate the contract." In contrast, NewJeans argues, "Trust was broken following the removal of former CEO Min Heejin," among other issues.
Unlike criminal trials, attendance is not mandatory in civil trials. However, all five NewJeans members personally appeared in court during the injunction hearing in March. Minji and Danielle also attended the first mediation session held in August.
[+43][-13] ADOR and HYBE fired Min Heejin, who was the core producer behind NewJeans, without any discussion with the members, and they had no backup plan after her dismissal. So, NewJeans are not terminating their contract just because they're 'upset,' just like what the haters want to believe. NewJeans terminated their contract due to complete breakdown of trust, because these companies acted like they were trying to ruin NewJeans.
[+50][-29] If this contract is nullified, every contract in South Korea might as well just be worthless scrap paper...
[+25][-13] They just have to pay the 600 billion KRW penalty... They should stick to the contract. Why are they being so unreasonable!?? Go ask your so-called 'spiritual mother' Ms. Min to pay it for you.
[+33][-22] I heard ADOR still provided staff support for them even when they were carrying out unauthorized solo activities... That's so mean of them.
[+22][-1] There is clearly a contract... And now they're just throwing a tantrum because they want to leave without paying the penalty because they feel 'upset'? That's not right. And they even went as far as to raise the issue at the National Assembly, claiming to be victims of workplace harassment. What about the other rookie group who got flooded with hate comments and suffered mentally because of all this mess?
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