NewJeans lost their legal dispute over their exclusive contract with ADOR, and multiple claims they made have been rejected by the court.
On October 30 KST, the Seoul Central District Civil Agreement Division 41 (Chief Judge Jung Hoe Il) delivered its verdict in ADOR’s lawsuit seeking confirmation of the validity of the exclusive contracts signed with the five NewJeans members.
During the trial, the court stated, "there is insufficient proof that Hanni was subjected to remarks such as 'ignore her' from an ILLIT manager that would amount to an infringement of her personal rights." The court explained, “Hanni testified that she heard CEO Min Hee Jin say, ‘The ILLIT manager told you to just act like you didn’t know them and pass by.’ Hanni herself said she couldn’t recall the exact words but that it was something like that. Min Hee Jin then sent her a message asking, 'Ignore her, is that it?'"
The court continued, "It appears that the expression ‘ignore her’ originated from Min Hee Jin. Considering Hanni’s statement that ‘one of the three ILLIT members avoided eye contact while the last one greeted me,’ it seems that the ILLIT members did greet the defendants."
In conclusion, the court ruled, “Each exclusive contract signed between ADOR and NewJeans remains valid,” ordering the five members of NewJeans to bear the litigation costs.
With the court ruling made final, Korean netizens have gathered in various popular online communities to share their thoughts on the news. The public sentiment toward NewJeans had already been waning, but the latest verdict has further damaged the once-beloved group's image. Many commenters are now urging NewJeans to apologize to ILLIT, accusing them.
They commented:
"Please apologize to ILLIT. The girls went through something way too harsh."
"They did something that should never be done to fellow girl groups."
"Apologize to ILLIT."
"Do people even realize how much ILLIT was criticized here, too? But when you check the CCTV and schedules, they actually did everything properly."
"Make a public apology."
"Even if they didn’t greet properly, does that justify taking this all the way to the National Assembly audit? It’s obvious the two labels don’t get along, and Min Hee Jin caused that. The fact they’re still clinging to it makes me think - do they just have no other reason to terminate the contract?"
"And ILLIT’s manager is just an ordinary person, getting cursed at with no fans to defend them…"
"Direct perpetrator."
"Seriously, apologize to ILLIT."
"Apologize to ILLIT. They were just kids, too."
"I feel so bad for ILLIT and the LE SSERAFIM members."
"Min Hee Jin and NewJeans - both perpetrators. Perfect match."
"Can you believe a foreigner acted like that at Korea’s National Assembly audit? Ridiculous."
"Just apologize already."
"Poor ILLIT... I sincerely support them."
"Min Hee Jin used that first, lol. Min and NewJeans, just apologize already."
"I'm really not liking NewJeans."
"This isn’t even new - everyone already knows Hanni lied under oath at the hearing."
"Stop dragging ILLIT through the mud. They were brand-new rookies back then. So, so pitiful."
"Sigh… what did ILLIT ever do wrong?"
"I don’t care about their promotions, but they need to apologize. Do they still think they’re the victims? lol."
"Feels like watching bullies in action. Disgusting."
"Apologize to ILLIT."
"NewJeans = clear perpetrators."
"Even if it were true, trying to use that as a major contract violation was comical."
"Even if 'ignore her' was true, it’s nothing serious under the law. It just shows how much of a princess treatment NewJeans got from HYBE."
"Apologize to ILLIT and that manager, regardless of whether you appeal or not."
"I knew this would happen."
"Apologize to ILLIT."
"ILLIT should sue."
"Why do NewJeans act so victimized? Meeting an immature adult became their downfall."
"Min Hee Jin and NewJeans - apologize to ILLIT a hundred times."
"I don't want to ever see NewJeans again."
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