The first ruling ordered them to pay 1 billion won in damages.
This case reexamines the legal relationship between artists and their agencies.
The legal dispute between the production team 'Dolphin Kidnapping Squad' and Adore regarding the NewJeans music video continues.
According to Star News on January 21, director Shin Woo-seok and the team filed an appeal on January 20 against the first ruling of a damages lawsuit set by Adore.
On January 13, the Seoul Central District Court's Civil Division 62 determined that the Dolphin Kidnapping Squad and director Shin had violated their contract by posting the music video on their own YouTube channel without Adore's permission, ordering them to pay 1 billion won in damages along with delayed interest. The court also ruled that Adore's claim for damages could be executed. However, director Shin's team has simultaneously filed for a stay of execution to prevent the forced collection of the damages before the ruling is finalized, strongly disagreeing with the first ruling.
This legal conflict arose in August 2025 over Adore's request to halt the posting of the director's cut of NewJeans' 'ETA' music video, leading to allegations of defamation directed at Shin. Despite former CEO Min Hee-jin defending Shin's side during the trial, the court ultimately sided with Adore.
This case sheds light on the contractual relationship within the Korean music industry in relation to NewJeans' activities. NewJeans has garnered attention for its unique concepts and innovative musical styles, with their music videos serving as essential elements tied to brand image. Thus, the legal implications of unauthorized postings can significantly impact NewJeans' management strategy and consumer perceptions.
Furthermore, the divergence of opinions between director Shin and Adore during the court proceedings indicates that the issues of ownership and copyright concerning artistic creations are increasingly serious in the industry. This case exemplifies typical disputes that arise when the rights to use creative works, such as music videos, are not clearly defined, emphasizing the need for broader discussions within the industry to prevent similar legal issues in the future.
Lastly, this conflict could serve as a test for NewJeans' fandom and the trust in their brand. Fans may demand legal support to protect the artist, and such circumstances could strengthen the ties between the artist and their agency.
This article is KOSTAR’s reinterpretation of a story originally reported by TVDaily.
Photo: TVDaily
