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| ▲ This cover image of fashion magazine Vogue Korea shows K-pop girl group NewJeans. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- ADOR, the management of NewJeans, has expressed 'concerns' over the K-pop group's recent opening of a new social media account separate from their official channels, citing contractual dispute.
ADOR stated on Wednesday, "Any accounts other than the official SNS accounts created by ADOR have been opened without prior agreement, as stipulated in the exclusive contract." The agency also noted, "The creation of this account and related content has already led to inquiries and complaints from advertisers and other third parties."
The group launched the Instagram account jeanzforfree on December 14, with former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin liking the account's first post. The members confirmed the account's authenticity, stating, "This is really us. We'll meet here more often."
NewJeans has asserted since November 29 that their exclusive contract with ADOR has been terminated. However, ADOR insists the contract remains valid and has filed a lawsuit seeking confirmation of its enforceability.
ADOR warned that any entertainment activities conducted via the new account could lead to legal complications. The agency claimed to have shared its concerns with the members and their legal guardians, emphasizing that NewJeans already has dedicated platforms for fan interactions, including Phoning, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
Despite the controversy, NewJeans posted photos from a Vogue Korea photoshoot on the new Instagram account. Notably, the team's name, "NewJeans," was absent from the shoot credits, which only listed the individual members. Min Hee-jin reportedly participated as the creative director for the shoot.
NewJeans is scheduled to attend the Golden Disc Awards on January 4–5 in Fukuoka, Japan, performing on the first day of the event.
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