Tuesday’s ruling follows a year-long standoff between the chart-topping group and its agency.
The group’s announcement to split from Ador, which was made in November last year during a press conference, came after a long and public spat between Min Hee-jin, and Ador, as well as its parent company, Hybe – South Korea’s biggest music label, whose client list includes K-pop royalty such as BTS and Seventeen.
Tensions between Min and Hybe started in April 2024, when Hybe launched audits into Ador, which was then managed by Min, while calling her to step down.
Min rejected Hybe’s allegations that she was plotting to go independent. In August, she was dismissed as the CEO of Ador.
The band soon issued an ultimatum demanding that Min be reinstated. When Hybe refused, the members went public with a series of complaints against the label, including claims it had deliberately undermined their careers.
One of the group’s members, Hanni, also alleged that she suffered workplace harassment while working with the label.
In December, Ador filed a lawsuit asking the court to confirm the validity of their contract with the group.
As the disputes continued, the group’s five members attemped to rebrand themselves as NJZ in February. They planned to release a new song, but the promotions were halted by a court order.
The group still performed it at a show in Hong Kong, where they announced a hiatus.
Back in March, after the court injunction was issued, the group described the court’s decision as “a shock”, but said the five of them would “go through it” together.