NewJeans has been in the middle of drama with the label ADOR (under HYBE) for the last couple of months. The group decided to leave their agency in 2024, after accusing them of bullying and breach of contract. Adding to the controversy, an official from the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) recently claimed that NewJeans’ legal dispute with their company could tarnish K-pop’s reputation and called the quintet “impressionable teenagers.”
TV Daily’s latest report suggests NewJeans attempted to break free of their contract, signing endorsements solo and even asking fans to help them get a new name on social media. According to the KMCA rep, these actions imply legal consequences, which the group might not be able to respond to.
Meanwhile, Min Hee Jin—former CEO and executive producer for NewJeans—faces criticism for not stepping in to keep the group out of this messy situation. Her silence, in the official’s view, didn’t shield NewJeans from public scrutiny. Currently, the quintet continues to be active on social media and requested the help of fans for new group name ideas, all while they gain ownership of the NewJeans brand in the legal showdown against HYBE’s ADOR.