NewJeans announces leaving its label due to “bad treatment”

The very popular South Korean girl group, NewJeans, announced on Thursday their decision to leave their label ADOR, accusing it of “bad treatment”. “As of midnight today, our contract with ADOR will be terminated”declared one of the members, Minji, during a press conference held by this K-pop group, composed exclusively of women, one of the most popular of the label.

The group members indicated that they would continue to honor their contractual obligations, but noted that they may no longer be able to use the NewJeans name. Another group member, Hanni, added that NewJeans had “faced mistreatment, not only towards us, but also towards our team”without giving details.

NewJeans has experienced “deliberate miscommunications and manipulations in several areas”she clarified. “That’s not the kind of work ethic we respect and it’s not the kind we want to be a part of. Continuing to work for a company that has no intention of protecting NewJeans will only harm us”Hanni accused.

Ultimatum

In a statement addressed to AFP, ADOR expressed its «regrets» regarding the fact that the press conference “was planned and carried out without sufficient consultation”. ADOR added that the exclusive agreement between with members of NewJeans “remains in full force” and, therefore, has “respectfully requested that the group continue its collaboration with ADOR for future activities, as has been the practice thus far”.

The group's announcement comes two weeks after the group issued an ultimatum to ADOR's parent company HYBE – which is behind K-pop phenomenon BTS – telling them it would terminate their contract unless certain requirements are met.

The group's demands to HYBE include an apology for a comment made by one of the company's managers, accused by NewJeans of harassment, as well as the immediate reinstatement of their producer Min Hee-jin. Ms. Min resigned from ADOR's board last week after HYBE accused her of breach of trust, sparking a legal and media battle.