NewJeans members expose email with ADOR response about termination

The girl group NewJeans made public the response from ADOR, the company with which the group officially terminated its contract at midnight this Friday, 29th, after sending a legal notice.

The document was sent to the company on November 13th, which alleged the inability of the HYBE Corporation group, and ADOR, to protect and comply with the clauses of the contract, in addition to the requirement to address the issues mentioned within a period of 14 days, the that didn’t happen.

Check out ADOR’s email in summary:

Recipient: MinJi Kim, Hanni Pham, Danielle June Marsh, HaeRin Kang, HyeIn Lee
Sender: Kim JooYoung, CEO, ADOR Co.
Subject: Response to certified mail dated November 13, 2024

1. Our basic position
1. The Contractual Framework
ADOR Co. (hereinafter referred to as “ADOR”) and the recipients of this letter (hereinafter referred to as “Artists”) entered into an exclusivity agreement on April 21, 2022. The agreement remains in effect until July 31, 2029, seven years to from the artists’ debut date. On November 13, 2024, the Artists sent a certified letter entitled “Demand for Correction of Breach of Contract”, which we received on November 14, 2024.

B. Support and commitments
All ADOR employees worked tirelessly to support the artists’ activities, enabling them to achieve significant success both nationally and internationally in a short period. Despite unforeseen changes, such as legal disputes involving our parent company and the replacement of our CEO, ADOR has consistently and faithfully supported the activities of Artists. We are also preparing for artists’ future endeavors, including fan meetings, regular album releases and world tours, with the intention of incorporating artists’ input into these plans.

C. Regarding allegations of breach of contract
ADOR has always sought rational solutions to emerging issues through internal deliberation. Certain allegations made by Artists involve matters beyond ADOR’s control, such as actions by third parties or demands that exceed reasonable legal or contractual frameworks.

D. Resolution Intentions
We regret the lack of communication and direct dialogue between ADOR and Artists, which perpetuated misunderstandings. We remain committed to addressing concerns through cooperation and discussion.

2. Explanation of individual issues and actions taken
A. Interpretation of Statements in a HYBE Report
Artists have raised concerns about a phrase in a management report, which is believed to imply discrimination against them. ADOR clarified that the report was created by HYBE, not ADOR, and was misinterpreted. HYBE confirmed that the report did not seek any specific action against the artists.

B. Allegations of negligence on the part of another record company’s manager
The artists accused a manager at another record label of inappropriate conduct towards them, which ADOR allegedly ignored. ADOR responded by detailing its efforts to verify the facts and act within legal and practical limits, although some artists’ requests were beyond ADOR’s control.

C. Unauthorized disclosure of training videos and photos
We regret the unauthorized release of Artists’ preview materials and have taken several steps to mitigate the situation, including requesting the removal of content from platforms and seeking preventive measures to prevent recurrence.

3. Request for Communication with Artists
ADOR emphasizes its commitment to helping artists maintain their unique style by pledging ongoing support for their artistic endeavors. The company made several proposals, including rehiring former executives to oversee production, although they were rejected. In recognition of artists’ concerns about leadership changes, ADOR is actively seeking new producers to collaborate with artists to ensure their creative visions are realized.

We hope this letter alleviates artists’ concerns and serves as a basis for constructive dialogue.

Yours sincerely,
Kim Joo Young
CEO, ADOR Co.

It is worth remembering that the oldest member of NewJeans, Minjialso stated at the press conference that ADOR sent the response just one hour before the group’s official announcement to the press.

“Yes, they sent the response 1 hour ago before this conference, so it was a little late, but we all read it. When I read the email, it was quite serious. They stated that the 14 days given were not enough, they are sad because they could not resolve this with the members, there were things that were beyond ADOR’s control. However, no action was taken and we also made these demands during our live broadcast in September. They were never interested in the legal notice and the response was. full of lies and excuses.”