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On October 30, 2025, the 41st Civil Agreement Division of Seoul’s Central District Court ruled that ADOR lawfully dismissed former CEO Min Hee-jin and that the company did not violate NewJeans’ exclusive contract. Judges said NewJeans and Min Hee-jin failed to prove ADOR breached its duties. “It is difficult to conclude that Ador breached the exclusive contract solely on the grounds of Min Hee-jin’s dismissal,” the court wrote. It added,“The fact that Min was removed from her position as CEO does not in itself mean that a managerial vacuum was created or that Ador became incapable of fulfilling its contractual obligations. The members’ personal trust in Min alone does not establish that guaranteeing her CEO position was a fundamental obligation under the exclusive contract.”The court noted ADOR tried to keep Min involved after her ouster. The hearing stated that the label offered a revised agreement covering the remainder of her term and asked her to keep producing for NewJeans. According to it, Min declined and voluntarily resigned from her role as an internal director. The court also rejected the claim that Min’s public campaign aimed to shield the group.“It cannot be viewed that Min Hee-jin’s actions were for the purpose of safeguarding the group,” the ruling said.It find her media push was not directly connected to the members’ independence. The decision leaves ADOR’s exclusivity intact and removes Min’s dismissal as a standalone legal basis to void the contract. Judges also pointed to Min’s role in triggering earlier disputes.ʚSSERAFIMERSɞ @SserafimersLINKThe Seoul Central District Court ruled that former CEO Min Hee-jin was the first to raise plagiarism claims involving ILLIT and #LE_SSERAFIM, sparking a public dispute. The court stated, “Evidence indicates former CEO Min Hee-jin initiated the public opinion battle.”The court said she was the first to raise plagiarism claims tied to ILLIT and #LE_SSERAFIM, which led to a wider media clash.Min Hee-jin launches new K-pop agency amid disputeMin Hee-jin (Image via Instagram/@min.hee.jin)Min Hee-jin has opened a new entertainment firm named OOAK, completing corporate registration on Oct. 16. The company is set up as a K-pop agency. Its stated business lines are artist management, music and album production, distribution, live events, and brand services.The firm’s registered capital is 30 million won. The office is in Gangnam, reported near Nonhyeon-dong / Sinsa-dong. Min is listed as a board member, making it her first formal business move since leaving ADOR last year. The launch comes amid the long NewJeans-ADOR dispute. Industry watchers said that Min’s move looks like a full-scale attempt to reenter the business. However, on Oct. 30, the Seoul Central District Court backed ADOR, granting an injunction that bars the five members from doing independent activities without the agency’s approval. That ruling reduces the chance the members would move to Min’s new label for now.NewJeans last put out music with the single album How Sweet, released May 24, 2024. The group has not released a new title since then.
