If you’re a fan who’s been watching the NewJeans vs. ADOR legal conflict unfolds, you know the case has now turned into something beyond a mere company fight. It is now a collision between creativity, control, and trust. The court hearing in July 2025 brought not just argument to the table, but also a clearer view of what both sides are fighting for, and how deep the cracks go. Now, here’s your full breakdown of the court hearing results between NewJeans and ADOR in July 2025, and everything you need to know.
Inside NewJeans x ADOR July 2025 Court Hearing: The Momentary Results
At the center of this high-profile case is a lawsuit filed by ADOR, not NewJeans. The agency is asking the Seoul Central District Court to affirm the legal validity of its exclusive contracts with NewJeans members—Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein.
NewJeans, on the other hand, is fighting to terminate those contracts, citing irreparable trust breakdowns following the removal of ADOR founder and CEO Min Hee Jin after HYBE’s internal audit.
The court had already granted an injunction in March 2025 preventing the group from engaging in business activities with any other agency. That injunction was then upheld in an appeal as well.
Now, this new court hearing in July 2025 was about confirming whether those contracts between NewJeans and ADOR are still legally binding—and if they should remain so.
Held at Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Agreement Division 41, this July 2025 court hearing between NewJeans (NJZ) and ADOR marked the third major session in their ongoing legal war over the validity of the group’s exclusive contracts.
Unlike the previous hearings, this was the first open courtroom showdown where both sides presented full arguments. And now the public got a front-row seat to the deeper issues beneath the surface.
1. NewJeans Sets Clear Condition for Returning
In one of the most talked-about statements of the day, NewJeans legal team revealed the members are not entirely opposed to returning. However, they will return only if ADOR is restored to its state before HYBE’s April 2024 audit.
Their argument centers on the idea that the agency has changed fundamentally:
“It’s not that [the members] absolutely refuse to return to ADOR. If ADOR can be returned to how it was before the audit, [they] would be willing to go back.”
NewJeans’ Legal Representative.
The legal team argued that ADOR has changed so much under HYBE’s control that it no longer feels like the same company the members originally joined.
To explain this, they used a simple comparison: it’s like changing the SIM card in a phone. The outside might look the same, but what’s inside—and how it functions—is completely different.
2. NJZ Compares Their Ordeal to Abuse and Bullying
A handwritten petition from the members shocked the courtroom and the public alike. They described their situation using the metaphor of school violence and domestic abuse, writing:
“Telling us to go back to ADOR is like telling a school bullying victim to return to the place where their bully is.
The staff who worked with us have already left, and ADOR is no longer genuinely listening to what we have to say. How loudly do we have to scream before someone realizes how much we’re hurting?”
NewJeans’ Handwritten Petition.
Their statement sparked severe backlash from Korean netizens as they believe the comparison was too extreme or didn’t fit the situation.
Still, the members’ intent was clear: they wanted the court to understand the emotional strain they’d faced from being pulled into a conflict they didn’t even start.
3. Claims of Mental Health Toll and Antidepressant Use
The hearing also revealed troubling details about the group’s current mental state. NewJeans’ lawyers stated that members experience panic and anxiety when near ADOR’s building, to the extent that they now require antidepressants:
“The members want to continue their careers in the entertainment industry, but they do not want to do so under ADOR. Even just going near the ADOR building makes their hearts race and forces them to take antidepressants.”
NewJeans’ Legal Representative.
The statement quickly drew attention from fans and media online, adding emotional weight to the group’s case. It also brought renewed attention to a bigger issue many have raised before—how much control companies have over idols, and what that means for their well-being.
4. ADOR’s Counterargument: It’s Still the Best Place for NewJeans
Meanwhile, ADOR, now under CEO Kim Joo Young, took a more straightforward approach. The agency argued that NewJeans hasn’t given a valid reason to end their contracts. They also warned that if the contracts are canceled, it could seriously impact not just the group, but the company’s future—and even the stability of the K-pop industry as a whole.
“If the exclusive contract is terminated, it would cause irreparable damage to the members. They would lose the full support of ADOR and HYBE, as well as their idol image. Legal disputes over penalty fees and damages would also follow.
It would be difficult to maintain employment for ADOR’s staff. The court itself acknowledged that if the contract is terminated, ADOR’s very survival is at risk. The company would no longer be able to train future talent, and K-pop would be headed for collapse.
NewJeans is necessary for themselves, for ADOR, and for the K-pop industry.”
ADOR.
ADOR emphasized that NewJeans would still benefit the most by staying under the current contract. The agency claimed they are actively preparing the group’s comeback and argued that continuing with ADOR would protect the members from legal penalties, help preserve their public image and shield them from the stigma that can come with breaking a contract in the K-pop industry.
“Meanwhile, if the exclusive contract is maintained, the members can carry out their entertainment activities under the best conditions, shake off the stigma of being celebrities who break promises, and be freed from penalty fees and damages.
Since ADOR is still preparing for NewJeans’ return, we believe coming back to ADOR would be beneficial for the group.”
ADOR.
5. The “We’ll Get Them Back” KakaoTalk Message Sparks Dispute
However, one moment that reignited tensions was ADOR’s decision to cite a KakaoTalk message allegedly sent by former CEO Min Hee Jin, which read: “I’m going to take them [NewJeans] back after three years.”
NewJeans’ legal team immediately objected, arguing that the message had been unlawfully obtained and should not be presented in open court. The presiding judge, however, dismissed the objection, stating: “Even I know about it. Do you think reporters don’t?”
The incident sparked renewed debate about privacy and fairness in high-profile legal proceedings.
For many, the exchange raised concerns about how leaked or questionable communications are being used—and potentially weaponized—during courtroom arguments. It also underscored how emotionally charged and publicly scrutinized the NewJeans x ADOR dispute has now become.
6. CCTV Footage Dispute Resurfaces: ILLIT vs. Hanni
Last but not least, NewJeans’ team also challenged ADOR’s handling of a previous incident involving Hanni and rookie group ILLIT.
They argued that ADOR released incomplete CCTV footage, omitting parts that would support Hanni’s claims of being deliberately ignored.
“There’s CCTV footage of her going in, but why was the footage of her leaving deleted? It makes Hanni look like a liar.”
ADOR explained that the missing footage had been deleted automatically due to a common 30-day storage limit on many security camera systems. They said the clip of Hanni entering the building was still available because it had been saved earlier, but the footage of her leaving was not backed up in time, so the system erased it on schedule.
Still, this explanation didn’t fully convince the public. Many fans and observers online pointed out that it seemed too convenient, especially since the missing footage could have helped confirm or deny key claims in the case.
Fans questioned why, in such a serious dispute about how idols are treated, all the camera footage wasn’t protected right away. Even if the deletion was automatic, the fact that it happened raised concerns that ADOR either ignored important evidence—or chose not to keep it on purpose.
7. A Broken Family? The Striking Most Analogy Yet
In one of the most emotionally raw moments of the hearing, NewJeans’ legal team drew a powerful analogy:
“The mom who raised us was kicked out, and now the abusive dad is saying, ‘I’ll find you a better mom, so come back home.’”
NewJeans’ Legal Representative.
The metaphor was meant to highlight just how deep the group’s distrust runs. In this framing, Min Hee Jin represents the maternal figure who nurtured and protected the members, while HYBE is cast as the paternal force that removed her and now expects the group to return under a restructured agency.
While dramatic, the comparison revealed what’s at stake on an emotional level—not just legal control, but the sense of safety and belonging that idols often lose in corporate transitions.
The line quickly circulated among fans online, resonating with those who see K-pop not just as performance, but as deeply personal relationships between artists and the people guiding them.
NewJeans x ADOR July Court Hearing Result: What Happens Next?
With the next court-led mediation scheduled for August 14. Both fans and industry professionals are now watching closely to see if the two sides will reach any kind of resolution.
Will NewJeans and ADOR get back together or eventually split?
At this point, the positions could not be more firmly set. NewJeans (NJZ) continues to assert that a return is only possible if the agency restores its original leadership and environment, specifically calling for the reinstatement of Min Hee Jin and the old ADOR team.
For them, the issue is simple: they believe the trust and foundation they once had at ADOR no longer exist.
And that was the old ADOR with the original staff team (which were NOT previous employees of HYBE) that promoted NewJeans really well and treated them like humans. if y'all like to give your two cents on situations atleast keep yourself updated. https://t.co/lev1pVN91q pic.twitter.com/3nNy7gHxmB
— luna ୨ৎ (@luenacore) November 29, 2024
Meanwhile, ADOR, under CEO Kim Joo Young, maintains that it has always acted in the group’s best interest.
The agency argues that the contract remains valid, the group’s success is still a priority, and that the members’ attempted termination is both baseless and damaging—not only to ADOR, but to the stability of K-pop’s larger system.
Why the July 2025 Court Hearing Results of NewJeans x ADOR Matters More Than Ever
Finally, even if you’re not deeply invested in K-pop legal news, this hearing still marks a significant moment.
The July 2025 NewJeans court hearing results go beyond contract terms—they’ve opened wider discussions around labor conditions, artist autonomy, and the structural dynamics shaping Korea’s entertainment system.
For many fans, it’s also a reminder that behind every idol group are real individuals navigating complex decisions, public pressure, and systems larger than themselves.
NewJeans & old ador teams never die 👖🌏♾️🩵🩷💛💚💜🤍 pic.twitter.com/rCTNBOIbTe
— 𝐬𝐤𝐲𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥🌅 (@skyefall21) September 5, 2024
Would you return to the stage if the price was silence? Would you go back to a company that changed without you? The court may soon decide. But the fans are already watching.
Now, what do you think about the latest results on NewJeans x ADOR court hearing in July 2025? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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