ADOR CEO Kim Joo-young Expresses Affection for NewJeans Members: "I Truly Want to Be With You"

At 10:30 AM on the 7th, the 50th Civil Affairs Department of the Seoul Central District Court held a hearing for an injunction filed by ADOR against the five members of NewJeans. The injunction seeks to preserve ADOR’s status as the group’s agency and prohibit the members from independently signing advertising contracts. Both ADOR CEO Kim Joo-young and the five members of NewJeans were present in court.

CEO Kim Joo-young’s Emotional Appeal

At the conclusion of the hearing, when the court asked if anyone had any final remarks, CEO Kim Joo-young expressed his deep attachment to the group, stating, "I’ll keep it simple. There is only one reason I filed for this injunction—I want to be with the members of NewJeans."

Speaking in a slightly hoarse voice, he continued, "I am waiting for the NewJeans members. They may not even realize I exist, but when I edit their videos every day, I see their faces and hear their voices more than even they do themselves."

Kim further reflected, "I’ve been thinking about how to better express my love and dedication to them. I ask that you, along with the dedicated members of ADOR who have poured their hearts into this journey, give me a chance to continue working with NewJeans."

However, the NewJeans members appeared visibly uncomfortable with CEO Kim’s emotional plea. Sitting on the debtor’s side of the courtroom, they exchanged glances and struggled to suppress laughter at his remarks.

The Contract Dispute Between ADOR and NewJeans

On November 28, 2023, NewJeans held an emergency press conference, announcing that their exclusive contract with ADOR would be terminated at midnight on the 29th due to ADOR’s failure to correct violations within 14 days of receiving a formal notice. Since then, the group has pursued independent activities, rebranding as NJZ, and announcing a new song release and an appearance at ComplexCon in Hong Kong.

ADOR’s Legal Counteraction

In response, on January 13, 2024, ADOR filed for an injunction at the Seoul Central District Court to preserve its status as NewJeans’ management agency and prevent the members from signing independent advertising contracts.

ADOR argued that this measure was necessary to ensure that its role as the group’s exclusive management company remains legally recognized until a verdict is reached in the “Exclusive Contract Validity Confirmation Lawsuit.” The injunction also aims to prevent NewJeans from engaging in unauthorized advertising deals or activities without ADOR’s approval.

Upcoming Court Proceedings

The trial date for ADOR’s lawsuit confirming the validity of NewJeans’ exclusive contract, which was filed on December 3, 2023, is scheduled to take place on April 3, 2024, at the 41st Civil Agreement Division of the Seoul Central District Court.

ADOR maintains that its exclusive contract with NewJeans remains legally binding and has pursued court action to reinforce this claim.