K-pop group NewJeans has lost a legal battle to leave its record label Ador.A South Korean court on Tuesday ruled that the act’s contract with the label, which runs until 2029, remains valid.The group’s five members – Hanni, Hyein, Haerin, Danielle and Minji – announced last year that they were unilaterally leaving the agency, citing mistreatment and manipulation.The group has said it will appeal the ruling, according to local media reports.NewJeans said it is “impossible to return to Ador” and continue their activities as normal, the reports said.The Seoul Central Disctrict Court rejected NewJeans’ argument that the dismissal of former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin, who was also the group’s mentor, constituted a breach of contract. NewJeans alleged that her dismissal broke their trust with the agency.In a statement released after the ruling, Ador said it sincerely hopes that the judgment “will serve as an opportunity for the artists to calmly reflect on this matter”. The label added that the it is ready for the members’ upcoming activities, including the release of an album, and is now “waiting”.The case stunned South Korea where record labels wield large amounts of power and tightly control their stars. It is highly unusual for artists to rebel against them. Formed in July 2022, NewJeans, whose members are aged from 17 to 21, had enjoyed rapid success before their dramatic fallout with the agency.Their first single Attention topped Korean charts right after their debut, while their hit song SuperShy made multiple “best of the year” lists at the end of 2023, including those compiled by Rolling Stone, NME and Billboard Magazine.Critics had called them a “game-changer” as their blend of 1990s R&B and sugar-coated pop melodies broke through a K-pop scene dominated by electronic beats. Tuesday’s ruling follows a year-long standoff between the chart-topping group and its agency.The group’s announcement to split from Ador, which was made in November last year …
