NewJeans Seeks to Terminate Contract with ADOR After Workplace Harassment Allegations

NewJeans is reportedly seeking to terminate its exclusive contract with its agency, ADOR, following a workplace harassment complaint filed against CEO Kim Jooyoung by one of the group’s managers. The complaint, submitted to South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor, alleges severe mistreatment by the agency.

According to Channel A‘s report on Tuesday, the manager claims that ADOR lured them under the pretense of a work-related meeting, only to issue a suspension notice and demand the return of a company laptop from the manager’s home. The manager alleges they were detained for approximately three hours until the laptop was returned.

Additionally, the manager accuses ADOR of forcing the submission of their personal cellphone without legal grounds. The complaint further states that after the manager backed up work-related files to the company’s drive and formatted the laptop, ADOR began an investigation, using the laptop’s formatting as grounds for disciplinary action.

In response, ADOR issued a statement addressing the allegations. “Recently, the manager directly contacted an advertiser, attempting to facilitate a deal between the artist and the brand while bypassing the company. This is a serious violation of the artist’s exclusive contract,” the agency said. “As an employee of ADOR, the manager’s role is to ensure the proper execution of contracts between the company and artists. Artists are obligated to carry out their activities solely through ADOR.”

The agency also provided further details about the situation: “Despite initiating an investigation and offering the manager ample opportunity to explain, they refused to cooperate, making false statements that contradicted clear evidence. As a result, we had no choice but to issue a suspension and request the return of company property, specifically the laptop. At no point did we engage in any coercive actions or illegal detention during this process.”

Finally, ADOR clarified, “All work-related information stored on company property, including laptops, must be returned without being deleted. After the manager was asked to return the laptop, several hours passed before it was submitted to the company. However, the laptop was returned after being formatted in a way that made the data completely irrecoverable.” The company added, “ADOR will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and take the necessary legal actions.”

Meanwhile, NewJeans is involved in an ongoing dispute over its exclusive contract with ADOR. On November 28, the group held a press conference to announce its decision to terminate the contract with the agency.

At the press conference, the members of NewJeans stated, “We’ve witnessed our managers and staff, who assist with our schedules, being subjected to severe harassment, including having their laptops taken by ADOR and HYBE and being suddenly confronted and investigated without prior notice. It’s difficult to understand why this is happening to the very people who are supporting us in fulfilling our remaining schedules.”