Big drama is unfolding with K-pop group NewJeans as the five members have filed a lawsuit against their company, ADOR, over their exclusive contract. Lawyer Lee Ji Hoon has given his sharp analysis of the situation, and things aren't looking good for the group.
On December 6th, Lee Ji Hoon, a lawyer from Law & More, uploaded a video on the YouTube channel 'Korea Lawyer'. In the video, the lawyer discussed what might happen to NewJeans' future in the industry, especially if they continue their activities under the current contract.
Lee Ji Hoon pointed out that if NewJeans plans to keep performing, they must first change their name. He explained, "They can't keep using the name 'NewJeans'. If they're claiming they've legitimately ended the contract, the copyrights, trademarks, and everything related to the name belong to ADOR".
He continued, "The name must be returned. If they don't, they could face serious legal consequences. It’s possible they want to get the name back through legal means, but this all depends on the contract."
The lawyer also explained that whether the group can continue their entertainment careers depends on the details of their contract. "We need to examine the contract closely to avoid any unnecessary risks", he added.
Regarding NewJeans' claim that the contract has been terminated, Lee Ji Hoon raised some doubts. "There are different opinions on what actions disrupted their work. It’s unclear whether this should be considered a termination of the contract", he said.
"They sent six correction requests, but I don’t think that’s enough to justify breaking the contract. It seems like they want to say it’s terminated, but the situation is more complicated than that".
On the issue of NewJeans' refusal to pay penalties, the lawyer was blunt. "They’ll have to pay. If they say they won’t, it’s going to be hard for people to believe them. It’s a big legal risk for NewJeans".
NewJeans made headlines on November 28, announcing they were ending their exclusive contract with ADOR, effective November 29.
In response, ADOR issued a statement on December 5, emphasizing that the contract couldn't be broken by one party’s claim alone, and they filed a lawsuit on December 3 to confirm the contract's validity.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, the members attended the YOASOBI concert in Incheon on December 7, appearing as special guests.
However, they greeted the crowd by using their individual names instead of the usual group introduction, "Hello, we are NewJeans." This move raised even more questions about the group’s future.
Source: [1]
