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A Seoul court ruled on October 30 that the exclusive contract between girl group NewJeans and its management label ADOR remains valid, dismissing the group’s attempt to terminate the agreement and pursue independent activities.

The Civil Division 41 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Jung Hoe-il, ruled in favor of ADOR in its lawsuit seeking confirmation of the contract’s validity against the group’s five members.

NewJeans had argued that the dismissal of former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin constituted a breach of contract and that trust between the two parties had collapsed. The court, however, disagreed.

“The mere fact that Min was dismissed as CEO does not indicate that ADOR has become incapable of managing NewJeans or fulfilling its contractual duties,” the court said. “The contract contains no clause stipulating that Min must personally oversee the group.”

The ruling also stated that Min can still participate in ADOR’s production work as an external director and that her removal from the CEO position does not prevent her from contributing to the group’s creative direction.

Rejecting NewJeans’ argument that the relationship of trust had been “irreparably damaged,” the court noted that ADOR’s internal audit by parent company HYBE could not be seen as retaliatory or malicious. It added that “in entertainment contracts, large investments are typically made before debut, and creative control by the agency cannot itself be seen as an infringement of rights.”

The decision follows a series of interim rulings favoring ADOR. Earlier this year, the court granted ADOR’s injunction request prohibiting the members from engaging in independent activities, imposing a penalty of 1 billion won (approximately $7.2 million) for each violation until the final verdict.

NewJeans had declared in November last year that they would leave ADOR after their demands — including Min Hee-jin’s reinstatement — were rejected. ADOR subsequently filed a lawsuit asserting the contract’s validity.

After Thursday’s ruling, NewJeans’ legal representatives said the members “respect the court’s decision” but reiterated that “it is impossible to return to ADOR and continue normal activities under the current circumstances,” adding that they plan to appeal immediately.