ADOR alleges ex-CEO Min Hee-jin orchestrated NewJeans split in new court evidence

SEOUL, July 6 — K-pop agency ADOR has submitted new evidence alleging former CEO Min Hee-jin orchestrated efforts by girl group NewJeans to break away from the company.

In its damages lawsuit involving former member Danielle, her mother and Min, ADOR told a court Thursday that fresh material — including an audio recording — suggests coordinated planning behind the group’s dispute with the agency, The Korea Herald reported.

At the centre of the submission is a recording dated September 2, 2024, in which Min allegedly discussed plans related to NewJeans’ YouTube livestream held nine days later. 

ADOR said the recording shows Min telling the members’ parents that the livestream “must go ahead” as it could serve as evidence in a future legal move to terminate the group’s exclusive contracts.

The claims contrast with Min’s earlier position that she had discouraged the livestream and that the members acted independently.

The September 11 livestream saw all five members publicly demand that HYBE reinstate Min as ADOR’s CEO by September 25, arguing that management changes had affected the group’s identity and creative direction.

HYBE had removed Min as ADOR CEO in August 2024, saying the decision was part of a broader policy separating management and production functions. The move came amid allegations of internal conflict over control of ADOR and NewJeans’ direction.

Following ADOR’s refusal to reinstate Min, the members announced the termination of their exclusive contracts on November 28, 2024, and later promoted independently under the name NJZ.

ADOR further alleged that Min continued to direct the group’s activities before and after a court injunction in March 2025, which barred the members from carrying out entertainment activities without the agency’s approval.

The agency said Min was involved in preparations for NJZ’s appearance at ComplexCon Hong Kong, including production, styling, choreography, merchandise and promotional materials.

As part of its evidence, ADOR also submitted a performance agreement citing a US$500,000 (RM2.04 million) consulting fee tied to the ComplexCon project, which it alleges was intended for Min. 

The five members were to collectively receive US$350,000 for the performance.

Another document presented in court was an “Exclusivity Agreement” between NewJeans and AAO, a Chinese-backed company founded by Bonnie Chan Woo, organiser of ComplexCon.

According to ADOR, the agreement required NewJeans to report both group activities and ADOR-related matters to AAO, and would run for nine months with automatic renewal unless terminated.

ADOR told the court that while other members later moved to end the agreement after returning to the company in November 2025, Danielle allegedly continued to conceal its existence.

The agency also claimed Min encouraged the parents of Danielle and Minji to pressure ADOR with demands it could not accept and to secretly record conversations, alleging this was intended to build grounds for contract termination rather than reconciliation.