Ador, the sub-label of HYBE, has filed a lawsuit to determine the validity of its exclusive contracts with NewJeans, following the girl group’s decision to leave over alleged contract violations.

The lawsuit was submitted to the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday.

In a statement, Ador explained that it did not want to resolve the issue through legal means but had to take the step to show that the contracts cannot be terminated unilaterally.

NewJeans announced last week that they would be leaving due to disputes with the label’s founder and allegations of workplace bullying.

Ador insisted that the contracts remain valid until July 2029 and denied any actions that would justify the cancellation of the agreements.

The label expressed a desire to continue working with the group and emphasized the importance of honest discussions to resolve any misunderstandings.