K-pop sensation NewJeans said late on Thursday they are leaving label Ador, a subsidiary of Korean billionaire Bang Si-hyuk’s entertainment giant Hybe, citing alleged “mistreatment” and “manipulation.”
The announcement made by the five-member girl group comes after a months-long internal company dispute between Hybe and Ador, which only manages NewJeans. It sent shares of Hybe, best known for nurturing K-pop powerhouse BTS, down 4% on the Korean stock exchange on Friday while shares of rivals SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment gained over 1% and JYP Entertainment rose 3.5%.
In a press conference on Thursday, NewJeans said they would terminate their contract with Ador on Friday. “We have faced mistreatment not just towards us, but also including our staff, countless preventions and contradictions, deliberate miscommunications and manipulation regarding multiple areas,” said NewJeans member Pham Ngoc Han, who goes by Hanni.
“Ador has neither the will nor the ability to protect us. Therefore, staying here would be a waste of time would continue to cause us mental distress,” said
Pham. “More importantly, there is nothing to gain professionally, so we believe there is no reason for the five of us to remain with Ador.”
In an email response on Friday, Ador expressed regret about NewJeans’ decision to cease the contract “without sufficient review, prior to receiving a response to the legal notice,” adding that the contract“remains in full effect.” Meanwhile, Hybe said in a stock exchange filing it will disclose the decision regarding the contract termination “as soon as it is made.”
The management feud started earlier this year when Hybe sought to remove Min Hee-jin as CEO of Ador, accusing her of trying to take over Ador with outside investors. Min refuted the allegations and said Hybe’s move was a retaliation against her whistleblowing on alleged plagiarism by another label of Hybe in directing a new girl group called Illit.
