ADOR Intensifies Legal Crackdown on Malicious Posts Targeting NewJeans Amid Contract Dispute

 

ADOR Intensifies Legal Crackdown on Malicious Posts Targeting NewJeans Amid Contract Dispute

By C.M. Ong | News | July 1, 2025

Photo by TVTEN, CC BY 3.0, via wikimedia commons

ADOR Cracks Down on Online Attacks Targeting NewJeans Amidst Contract Turmoil

On June 30, 2025, K-pop label ADOR released an official statement revealing intensified legal action against malicious online content directed at its artist group NewJeans. The move comes as tensions escalate amid the group's contract dispute with the agency.

According to ADOR, they have been monitoring online platforms globally since NewJeans’ debut, taking legal steps against content involving defamation, false rumors, sexual insults, deepfakes, and invasion of privacy. This includes ongoing investigations into users of platforms like DC Inside, YouTube, and Telegram.

One notorious YouTuber, known for creating sexually humiliating content about the members, was identified and sued. Although the defendant proposed a settlement, ADOR rejected the offer. In a civil ruling on June 25, the court found the YouTuber guilty of violating personality rights and ordered significant financial damages to be paid to the group.

Criminal proceedings are also underway, including ADOR's appeal against a suspended sentence that required only educational programming, insisting on stricter penalties.

In their continued fight against deepfake crimes, ADOR confirmed that multiple distributors have been imprisoned, with additional penalties including asset forfeiture and bans from working with minors or vulnerable populations. Even a ProtonMail user—typically difficult to trace—was successfully apprehended.

Meanwhile, ADOR remains locked in a heated legal standoff with NewJeans over their exclusive contract. After NewJeans announced in late 2024 their departure and intent to promote independently as NJZ, the court sided with ADOR, upholding their contract and banning any independent activity.

Despite ADOR’s claims that they still hope for reconciliation, the members responded:

We’ve crossed a point of no return.

Whether reconciliation or a full legal battle lies ahead remains uncertain—but one thing is clear: ADOR is not backing down in its defense of NewJeans and the label's interests.