NewJeans prohibited from independent entertainment activities without ADOR, court orders 1 billion KRW (approximately $730,000) penalty per violation

The Seoul Central District Court has ruled that K-pop girl group NewJeans is not allowed to conduct any entertainment activities independently or through third parties without prior approval from their agency ADOR. This effectively blocks the group from engaging in any activities without the agency’s involvement.

On May 30, the 52nd Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court partially granted ADOR's request for an injunction to preserve the existing contract status and prohibit NewJeans from signing separate advertising agreements. The court stated that the members of NewJeans may not engage in entertainment activities independently or through third parties without ADOR’s prior approval or consent until a first-instance ruling is made regarding the validity of their exclusive contract.

This decision aims to maintain the status quo during the ongoing legal dispute between NewJeans and ADOR over the legitimacy of their exclusive contract. The court also introduced a penalty clause that requires NewJeans to pay 1 billion KRW (approximately $730,000) to ADOR for each violation of the injunction. The court ruled that the cost of the application must also be covered by NewJeans.

Previously, on March 21, the court fully accepted ADOR’s request for an injunction that barred NewJeans from entering into promotional or advertising contracts outside the agency. When the members of NewJeans filed an objection to the decision, the court rejected it on April 21, reaffirming its earlier ruling.

This latest decision not only prevents NewJeans from pursuing independent activities but also strengthens ADOR’s legal position regarding the validity of the contract. However, NewJeans continues to argue for termination of the contract, citing a breakdown of trust, suggesting that the legal conflict between the two sides is likely to intensify depending on the outcome of the main trial.

The second hearing in the main lawsuit between NewJeans and ADOR is scheduled for June 5.

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