HYBE shares surged by over 5% following a favorable court ruling on Thursday that upheld the exclusive contracts between NewJeans and HYBE subsidiary label ADOR, climbing to 324,500 KRW ($227.38) on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI). The Seoul Central District Court rejected NewJeans' attempt to terminate the agreements, which were first introduced in late 2024.
In a statement issued after the ruling, ADOR maintained that it had not breached its management duties and expressed gratitude for the court's decision. According to ADOR, the label has completed preparations for NewJeans, including the release of a studio album, and is waiting for the artists' response.
However, NewJeans' legal team stated that their relationship with ADOR was "completely collapsed" and that it's "impossible to return to ADOR." The group's members have signaled that they will continue to pursue the appellate process and publicly thanked fans for their continued support.
The court's decision has sent a positive signal to investors, with HYBE's market value jumping by roughly $644 million on Thursday. However, the ongoing dispute between NewJeans and ADOR could complicate promotions, fan sentiment, and long-term monetization efforts.
In related news, HYBE still has a packed schedule for many of its other artists before the end of the year, including releases from KATSEYE and new boy band and girl group projects with collaborators like Geffen Records. The label's stock is up more than 65% year-to-date, driven in part by the highly anticipated comeback of BTS in March 2026.
With the dispute between NewJeans and ADOR set to continue through the appellate process, investors will be watching closely to see how the situation unfolds and its impact on HYBE's business operations.
In a statement issued after the ruling, ADOR maintained that it had not breached its management duties and expressed gratitude for the court's decision. According to ADOR, the label has completed preparations for NewJeans, including the release of a studio album, and is waiting for the artists' response.
However, NewJeans' legal team stated that their relationship with ADOR was "completely collapsed" and that it's "impossible to return to ADOR." The group's members have signaled that they will continue to pursue the appellate process and publicly thanked fans for their continued support.
The court's decision has sent a positive signal to investors, with HYBE's market value jumping by roughly $644 million on Thursday. However, the ongoing dispute between NewJeans and ADOR could complicate promotions, fan sentiment, and long-term monetization efforts.
In related news, HYBE still has a packed schedule for many of its other artists before the end of the year, including releases from KATSEYE and new boy band and girl group projects with collaborators like Geffen Records. The label's stock is up more than 65% year-to-date, driven in part by the highly anticipated comeback of BTS in March 2026.
With the dispute between NewJeans and ADOR set to continue through the appellate process, investors will be watching closely to see how the situation unfolds and its impact on HYBE's business operations.
K-pop fans are in for a bummer. This court ruling just gave me more reasons to believe that the industry is all about exploiting artists for profit 
. I mean, who wants to wait years for an artist to break free from their contract? Not me, that's for sure 
. The fact that NewJeans' team thinks their relationship with ADOR is "completely collapsed" should've been a red flag in the first place... and now they're gonna have to deal with the fallout 
. HYBE's stock might be up, but at what cost? Artists need more than just financial security - they need creative freedom and respect 
IT'S LIKE A WEIGHT HAS BEEN LIFTED OFF THEIR SHOULDERS AND THEY CAN FINALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR PLANS FOR NEWJEANS!!! 
BUT AT THE SAME TIME I FEEL BAD FOR NEWJEANS' LEGAL TEAM BECAUSE THEY SEEM REALLY FURIOUS ABOUT THE whole thing... 
AND IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GET UGLY BEFORE IT ALL GETS RESOLVED... BUT WE CAN'T HELP BUT CHEER ON HYBE AND ADOR FOR THIS BIG WIN!!! 
I know some fans might be worried about what this means for ADOR, but let's not forget that KATSEYE's got a release lined up too 
We'll just have to wait & see how everything plays out 
I gotta say, this whole thing got me thinking... what does it say about our industry that a group of artists feels like they can't even control their own careers? I mean, NewJeans is saying their relationship with ADOR is "completely collapsed" but ADOR's all like "we've prepared everything for the artists"... it's like we're just pawns in this game. And what about the fans? Do they get to decide what happens next or are they just along for the ride? It feels like our artistry and creativity aren't valued, only our marketability. 
I mean, it's not like NewJeans is getting the better end of this deal or anything. They're basically stuck with these exclusive contracts that are gonna cramp their style for a while longer. And what about ADOR? They're just milking this situation for all it's worth, collecting that sweet, sweet KRW without giving NewJeans a chance to breathe. 
. they're clearly upset about the situation and i love how they're still being true to themselves and their fans 
. anyway, it's gonna be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out... will they make a comeback or will the feud with ADOR cause some major drama? #NewJeans #HYBE #Kpop #StockMarket
. I get it, businesses are all about the benjamins, but can't we just have a peaceful K-pop world for once? 
. It's gonna be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out, but let's not forget that HYBE has other talented artists on the roster too 
.
anyway, hope the newjeans members know how to take care of themselves, and i'm def rooting for them 