NewJeans to leave ADOR over alleged “mistreatment”
The dispute between the two has accelerated in recent months, and the members may need to operate under a different name
by Liberty Dunworth · NMENewJeans have announced their departure from ADOR, a subsidiary of powerhouse label Hybe, accusing it of “mistreatment” and “manipulation”.
The chart-topping K-Pop group made the announcement in a late-night press conference on Thursday (November 28). In the announcement, member Hanni alleged that the five-piece had been shunned by ADOR.
“This is not the type of work ethic we respect and not one we want to be a part of, and to continue working under a company with no intention of protecting NewJeans would only do us harm,” Hanni said (via BBC News).
She would also go on to allege “mistreatment, not just towards us [NewJeans] but also including our staff”, as well as claiming that the members experienced “deliberate miscommunications and manipulation in multiple areas”.
“[ADOR is] a company that no longer has any sincerity in the art of music that is created, is rather fixated on appearing like a well-working company despite only having thoughts about making money, and does not have any conscience about the negative effect they create through their non-authentic means,” she later added (as per Music Business Worldwide).
The planned departure comes as the latest chapter of a long-running conflict between Hybe’s chairman Bang Si-hyuk and former NewJeans producer Min Hee-Jin.
Recommended
According to various reports, NewJeans said they would like to continue working with Min Hee-Jin – who left ADOR in August amid accusations that she had planned to split from the company and take the K-pop group with her.
She has denied the accusations levelled against her, and the debate comes as the two have run into a dispute before. Previously, Min accused Hybe of copying NewJeans’ image and music with the launch of another girl group called Illit.
Min owns an 18 per cent stake in ADOR and is widely credited with creating NewJeans, who have gone on to become one of K-pop’s most popular acts.
In response to NewJeans claims, ADOR said that despite “multiple requests for meetings [with the members] our efforts have not been successful. We hope the members will now be willing to engage in an open and candid discussion.”
It added that it is “committed to fully supporting NewJeans in their activities and will continue to make every effort to assist in their growth as global artists.”
NewJeans filed a legal notice to Ador earlier this month (November 13). In it, the group insisted that the company resolve alleged breaches of their contracts within two weeks, and failure to do so would lead to the termination of their contracts.
They also asked for one of Hybe’s managers to issue an apology following accusations of bullying, as well as for Min to return to her previous role immediately. In return, they added that they would fulfil all of their contractual obligations.
The members have also gone on to warn fans that they may no longer be able to operate under the name NewJeans once the contract is terminated. Before the split was announced, the contract they were under was set to last seven years and expire in 2029.
“However, that doesn’t mean that we are giving up on the name at all, and we will continue to fight for NewJeans. Regardless of our name, just remember that NewJeans never dies,” group member Danielle said, as per Soompi.
The dispute has been at the centre of many headlines across South Korea, and news outlet Koreaboo has estimated that the members would have to pay about 300bn South Korean Won (roughly £170million) to terminate the contract early.
In response, group singer Haerin claimed that it “makes no sense” for NewJeans to be liable to pay a contract breach fee. “We never broke any rules,” Haerin said. “We did nothing but try our best – they are the ones at fault. Hybe and Ador are the ones responsible.”
The dispute between Hybe and NewJeans has accelerated in recent months. In October, for example, Hanni testified at the Labour Committee of South Korea’s National Assembly, at a hearing surrounding workplace harassment. While there, she accused the staff at the agency of undermining the members, and said she felt “convinced that the company hated us.”
This is a developing story.