Okay-pop group NewJeans signaled their willingness to reconcile with their company – HYBE-owned ADOR – through the third listening to within the group and ADOR’s civil lawsuit on Thursday (July 24).
Nevertheless, the group’s return is conditional provided that ADOR returns to resembling the company “that the members signed with”, NewJeans’ authorized group stated, in line with Korea JoongAng Every day on Friday (July 25).
The group’s authorized reps stated: “The foundation of this complete battle lies within the audit launched by HYBE in April final yr.”
The stated audit focused former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin. Min was then dismissed as CEO of ADOR in August 2024 following a battle with HYBE executives.
NewJeans’ legal professionals stated HYBE had accused Min of making an attempt a administration takeover and tampering with firm operations.
Min resigned as an inner director at ADOR in November, issuing a public letter by which she alleged that HYBE’s actions in opposition to her had been retribution for her try to blow the whistle on misconduct throughout the Okay-pop big.
NewJeans’ legal professionals famous final week that regardless of HYBE’s accusations in opposition to Min, none of those allegations had been included within the official grounds for her dismissal from the CEO place, proving that “she had fulfilled her duties inside her rights as ADOR’s CEO,” JoongAng reported.
“The ADOR that the members signed with — the one which cared for and supported them — is gone. Even with the identical cellphone, as soon as the SIM card is modified, it’s not the identical machine.”
NewJeans’ Authorized Crew
The legal professionals stated: “At this time’s ADOR is stuffed with the HYBE executives who ousted Min… The ADOR that the members signed with — the one which cared for and supported them — is gone.
“Even with the identical cellphone, as soon as the SIM card is modified, it’s not the identical machine. Likewise, the ADOR that the members as soon as trusted now not exists.”
They continued: “Simply being close to the company constructing makes [NewJeans’] hearts race with nervousness, to the purpose they want therapy for despair. How can anybody inform these younger folks to carry out on stage simply because they’re beneath contract? Do the defendants not have any rights to private dignity?”
NewJeans members wrote in a petition cited by the legal professionals: “Telling us to return to ADOR and HYBE is like telling the sufferer of college bullying to return to the identical college and endure it.”
The group additionally likened the scenario to “a mom who raised us being kicked out, whereas the abusive father tells us to come back again, promising to herald a greater mom,” in line with the report.
Nevertheless, the legal professionals stated the NewJeans members are nonetheless open for reconciliation beneath particular circumstances.
“Simply being close to the company constructing makes their hearts race with nervousness, to the purpose they want therapy for despair.”
NewJeans’ Authorized Crew
The authorized group stated: “It’s not saying that the members are against returning fully. If ADOR had been to return to the model that the members trusted and relied on, they’d return even when they had been requested to not.”
The contract dispute started in November 2024 when NewJeans unilaterally declared their unique contract with ADOR terminated. ADOR responded by submitting for injunctive reduction, securing the March order that prohibited exterior promoting offers and unbiased promotion.
Final month, the group did not problem a court docket injunction stopping them from pursuing unbiased actions with out approval from ADOR, successfully ending their appeals course of after lacking a deadline.
The group, which has carried out beneath the title NJZ since February, didn’t file an attraction to South Korea’s Supreme Courtroom by the June 24 deadline. On Could 30, the court docket warned NewJeans that they’d be ordered to pay 1 billion gained (USD $724,800) per member for every unauthorized exercise outdoors their company’s management, probably totaling 5 billion gained ($3.6 million) if all 5 members carry out collectively.
The case now enters mediation, with a closed-door session scheduled for August 14 at 2pm in Seoul. Any settlement reached throughout mediation would carry the identical authorized weight as a court docket settlement, JoongAng reported. If the mediation turns into unsuccessful, the court docket has reportedly set a ruling for October 30.
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