NewJeans Vs ADOR: HUGE Petition Protesting NJZ Ban To Perform; 32 Public Figures Issue Statement Ahead Of Court's Final Verdict

The massive legal fight between NJZ (formerly NewJeans) and its management agency ADOR saw a new light with 32 public figures rallying for the girl band's right to perform, urging a fair resolution to restrictive

company contracts. This comes soon after news surfaced that former ADOR CEO Min Hee-Jin has launched a new entertainment agency, and might just take in the group if they win the battle. The court is set to issue its first trial verdict on the validity of ADOR's exclusive contracts with NewJeans members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein at the end of this month.

Petition against NewJeans ban

On October 25, Korean media reported that 32 intellectuals, politicians, and cultural figures displayed a rare show of public support. They submitted a petition urging the court and government to reconsider the ban forced on NewJeans that has curtailed its right to perform, promote, or participate in any entertainment activities while the court evaluates the validity of their contracts with ADOR.Those who joined the protest against the ban on NewJeans activities include notable figures like National Assembly member Son Hye Won, Catholic University professor Sung Ki Sun, former Reform New Party supreme council member Cho Dae Won, former ambassador to Vietnam Kim Do Hyun, and Mediawatch CEO Byun Hee Jae. In a statement released on October 22, they stated that the ban imposed on NewJeans was concerning, and highlighted the lack of agency for artists in the South Korean industry as compared to that in the US.

Korean artists' rights in comparison to US

"Unlike the United States, an advanced nation in the entertainment industry, South Korea lacks a ‘public agency’ system to protect the legal interests of entertainers. Moreover, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s standard contract itself is problematic, as it ties an artist’s entire livelihood to a single agency for as long as seven years while imposing obligations solely on the entertainer," the statement read.

HYBE's profits after NewJeans debut

It also focussed on how HYBE, chaired by Bang Si Hyuk, made nearly four times the investment in operating profit after NewJeans debuted in July 2022. It claimed that if the band received the same rights as other artists in the US, the direction of their careers would've been different. "In a case like this, if it were in the United States, where certified agencies manage such contracts, the artists would have been able to secure the right to either obtain free-agent status through an opt-out clause or renegotiate their contracts," the statement stated."We ask that the government step in at the national level and, through broad social consensus and mediation, prevent a situation in which the members’ desired activities are fundamentally banned due to one court decision rooted in an incorrect standard contract…We hope that serious consideration will be given to adopting the American-style certified agency system as a fundamental solution to the frequent contract disputes and conflicts between entertainers and agencies — an issue that seems to occur only in South Korea," it added.ALSO READ: Min Hee-Jin Forms New Entertainment Agency 'OK' Ahead Of NewJeans Vs ADOR Court Verdict; Office Building Under ConstructionThe final court ruling regarding NewJeans contract with ADOR will be announced on October 30, determining whether its members can resume entertainment activities or remain restricted under the current injunction.