As the Seoul Central District Court prepares to rule today on the exclusive contract dispute between K-pop group NewJeans and their agency ADOR, attention has turned to whether the newly established entertainment agency by former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin will influence the verdict.
On October 30, the Civil Agreement Division 41 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jeong Hoe-il) is scheduled to announce its ruling on ADOR’s lawsuit seeking to confirm the validity of exclusive contracts with the five NewJeans members.
Although the court previously recommended mediation twice, both parties failed to reach an agreement, leading the case to a full trial. The court is expected to focus on the validity of the contracts and potential damages involved.
Meanwhile, Min Hee-jin has officially launched a new entertainment company named ooak, completing corporate registration on October 16. According to business filings, Min is listed as an internal director, and the company’s office is located in the Nonhyeon-dong area of Gangnam, Seoul.
The company’s registered business scope includes artist management, music and album production, distribution, performance planning, publishing, and notably, overseas operations and e-commerce. These elements suggest preparations for a global strategy possibly involving NewJeans, should they win the lawsuit.
This has led to speculation that if NewJeans succeeds in the court case, they may join Min Hee-jin’s new agency and resume activities under ooak. Given Min’s widely known nickname “NewJeans’ Mom,” many view this as a plausible development.
However, some industry insiders believe the timing of the new agency’s establishment could negatively affect the court’s perception. One music executive commented, “Min Hee-jin is still involved in ongoing litigation, and with no verdict yet, launching a new agency now appears highly intentional. It may be seen as a strategic move aimed at accelerating NewJeans’ return. The court may not view this favorably.”
In fact, the court previously issued a strong stance against independent activities by NewJeans under a new name like “NJZ,” warning of ₩1 billion (approx. $760,000) in damages per member per unauthorized performance. Additionally, ADOR’s request for an injunction to ban contract signing and advertising under third parties was approved, casting uncertainty on the group’s future promotions.
Now, all eyes are on how the court perceives Min Hee-jin’s newly formed agency in light of the ongoing legal turmoil—and whether it could tip the scales in the pivotal ruling regarding one of K-pop’s most influential girl groups.
ADOR maintains that the members unilaterally notified the agency of contract termination despite ADOR’s ongoing support for their growth. The members argue that the trust relationship broke down after ADOR refused to address concerns about Min Hee-jin’s reinstatement, which they had formally submitted in a legal notice last year.
Sources: Daum
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