NJZ Shows Up At Court For A Move That Could Change The Trajectory Of Their Case

On August 14, NJZ (formerly NewJeans) members Danielle and Minji appeared at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, to attend a mediation hearing in the lawsuit filed by ADOR, against them. The case centers on ADOR’s request for the court to confirm the validity of its exclusive contracts with the group.

This mediation session is part of an ongoing legal dispute that began earlier this year, when tensions between former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin and parent company HYBE escalated into a high-profile feud. HYBE, which owns an 80% stake in ADOR, accused Min of attempting to seize management control, while Min alleged that HYBE was interfering with ADOR’s creative independence and the management of NJZ. The conflict quickly spilled into the public sphere, with both sides issuing statements and filing legal actions.

In May, ADOR initiated lawsuits against all five members, seeking confirmation that their contracts remain valid despite reports that some members, through their legal representatives, had sought to terminate or renegotiate the agreements. The August 14 hearing was one of several scheduled attempts at court-led mediation to avoid a lengthy trial.

Danielle and Minji’s attendance marked one of the rare public appearances by NJZ members in direct connection to the case. They arrived separately but were photographed entering the courthouse, drawing considerable attention from both the media and fans.

If no settlement is reached through mediation, the court has indicated it will issue a final ruling in October. This mediation is one of the most important moments of their entire case. Such a decision could have far-reaching consequences for the future of NJZ, one of K-pop’s most commercially and critically successful groups in recent years.

For now, both sides remain entrenched, and the industry is closely watching how the dispute will reshape the idol group’s career trajectory.