NewJeans members Minji and Danielle appeared at the Seoul Central District Court for mediation proceedings.
On the afternoon of the 14th, Minji and Danielle were seen arriving at the court. As they exited their vehicle, reporters asked them questions such as, "What are your thoughts on the possibility of mediation today?" and "What are the terms of the agreement with ADOR?" Minji remained silent, while Danielle greeted the reporters with a smile.
At 2 PM, the 41st Civil Mediation Division, presided over by Judge Jeong Hoe-il, will hold a mediation session regarding the lawsuit filed by ADOR to confirm the validity of their exclusive contract with NewJeans. The session will be conducted privately.
Industry insiders believe that the return of former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and the 'Min Hee-jin-led ADOR' is central to the mediation. NewJeans has consistently demanded a return to 'Min Hee-jin's ADOR.'
Last November, NewJeans declared the termination of their exclusive contract, citing ADOR's breach, and attempted to pursue independent activities. In response, ADOR filed a lawsuit to confirm the contract's validity and sought injunctions to prevent NewJeans from signing advertising contracts, all of which were upheld by the court.
During the third hearing last month, NewJeans compared the situation to "a father who committed domestic violence kicking out the mother and then telling the children who left home, 'I'll find you a better mom, so come back.'" They expressed their refusal to return.
In their petition, the members stated, "Being told to return to ADOR is like telling a victim of school violence to return to where the perpetrator is."
Meanwhile, ADOR has extended an invitation for NewJeans to return and work together again. However, they have rejected the group's primary demand for Min Hee-jin's return.
If mediation is successful, it will have the same effect as a court settlement. If it fails, a court ruling is expected around October.