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On December 10, 2024, Channel A reported that NewJeans’ manager publicly accused their label, ADOR, of workplace harassment and bullying. The controversy escalated with allegations against ADOR’s CEO, Kim Joo-young, who was accused by the manager of instructing staff to confiscate the laptops of the girl group's staff members.
The manager stated:
"ADOR forcibly confined me to the company and demanded that I submit my laptop and personal cell phone."
This accusation added to the mounting criticism of the label's internal culture. The claims followed an earlier controversy involving NewJeans member Hanni, who testified against ADOR during a National Assembly audit on October 15, 2024. Hanni shared her experiences of alleged workplace bullying and called for better protections for artists under South Korea's labor laws.
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Hanni's testimony highlighted systemic issues, including a lack of legal protections for idols, as they are classified as "exceptional entities" rather than standard employees.
ADOR declares legal action against NewJeans' manager for alleged defamation against the label
On December 10, 2024, Xports News reported that ADOR claimed an employee reached out to an advertiser directly, urging them to enter into a direct contract with NewJeans. ADOR added that the manager allegedly tried to do so without the company's knowledge.
The label asserted that since NewJeans is under ADOR, the group is required to conduct entertainment activities exclusively through the company. Following this, the label launched an investigation into the manager, who subsequently alleged that slanderous accusations were made against the label.
ADOR stated that neither coercion nor unlawful imprisonment occurred throughout this procedure. The employee has consistently turned down the company's repeated requests for an interview with management. Xports News reported that ADOR said in its official statement:
"There was no illegal confinement or any coercion during this process. The company has requested an interview with the manager several times to give him a chance to explain himself, but the employee has refused all requests. All work-related information performed using the laptop, which is company property, must be returned without being arbitrarily deleted."
ADOR claimed that a few hours after being requested to turn in the laptop, the manager formatted it to prevent recovery. The company said:
"Several hours after being asked to submit the laptop, the manager received the laptop from someone and submitted it to the company, formatting it so that it could not be recovered. The manager made it impossible to confirm which data was deleted during the formatting process. We plan to thoroughly investigate the truth and take necessary legal action."
Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin was reinstated as an internal director on October 17, 2024, following demands from NewJeans and their supporters. However, on November 20, 2024, she officially resigned from both ADOR and its parent company, HYBE. On November 29, 2024, NewJeans terminated their exclusive contract with ADOR, citing breaches of trust and irreparable workplace conditions.
On December 5, 2024, ADOR filed an injunction against the girl group for their sudden contract termination.
