NewJeans manager files workplace harassment complaint vs Ador CEO; agency responds

NewJeans spreaks during a press conference held in Seoul to announce their contract termination with ADOR. Image: Newsis via The Korea Herald

A manager for K-pop group NewJeans has filed a workplace harassment complaint against Ador CEO Kim Ju-young with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, intensifying the conflict that started between the K-pop agency and its former CEO Min Hee-jin and spread to NewJeans and now their manager.

According to a local media outlet on Tuesday, Dec. 10, the manager alleges being lured to a work meeting where a suspension notice was issued, followed by demands for the immediate return of a company laptop. The individual claimed to have been confined for approximately three hours until the laptop was surrendered.

The manager also accused the company of coercing the submission of a personal phone without any legal justification. Despite backing up all work-related data and leaving only personal files on the laptop, Ador allegedly initiated an investigation, using the formatting of the device as grounds for disciplinary action.

Ador refuted the claims, stating that the manager had directly contacted an advertiser to facilitate a contract between NewJeans and the brand without the company’s involvement.

“The manager has admitted to this type of communication, which constitutes a severe breach of the artist’s exclusive contract,” Ador said in a statement on Wednesday, Dec. 11. “As an Ador employee, the manager was responsible for ensuring the exclusive contract between the artist and the company was upheld. Under this contract, the artist is obligated to conduct all activities exclusively through Ador.”

The agency added that an immediate investigation was launched, during which the manager was given multiple opportunities to explain his actions. However, the company alleged that he provided false statements contradicting the evidence and refused to cooperate with the investigation.

“This left us no choice but to suspend the manager and request the return of company assets, including the laptop. There was no coercion or illegal confinement during this process. Multiple requests for interviews to clarify his actions were declined,” Ador said.

The K-pop agency also stressed the importance of work-related information stored on the company laptop, which it said must be returned intact and without unauthorized deletion.

“The manager eventually returned the laptop after several hours, but it had been formatted to prevent data recovery, making it impossible to determine what was erased. Ador will conduct a thorough investigation and pursue legal action if necessary,” the company added.