The legal showdown between NewJeans and ADOR took a major turn on July 24, 2025. After their latest court hearing, both sides agreed to a mediation session scheduled for August 14. That meeting could decide the group’s future with their label. NewJeans says they’re willing to return, but only if ADOR goes back to the way it was before HYBE’s audit changed in April 2024.
The group’s legal team made it clear: NewJeans doesn’t want to simply leave ADOR for the sake of it, but HYBE’s audit led to the temporary removal of former CEO Min Hee Jin. This move changed the group’s interaction with the company, with them expressing that trust had been broken. According to the group, this situation destroyed what made ADOR feel like a home.
In short, the quintet’s message is “no Min Hee Jin, no NewJeans.” They argue that their success came under her wing, not after the changes HYBE made in ADOR. If mediation fails, the court will rule on whether their contracts still hold. The case could set a new tone for how much control artists really have over their careers in K-pop.