Director of NewJeans music videos sues ADOR CEO for defamation

According to local media on Friday, Shin Woo-seok, the music video director of girl group NewJeans’ hit songs, has filed defamation charges against ADOR CEO Kim Ju-young.

Shin filed a lawsuit against Kim and ADOR Vice President Lee Do-kyung, claiming that they violated the Law on Promoting the Use of Information and Communications Networks and Protecting Information by forcing him to stop his company’s work for NewJeans and then blamed him for it.

Shin directed music videos for many of NewJeans’ top hits, including “Ditto” (2022), “ETA” (2023), and “OMG” (2023), and runs “Ban Heesoo”, a YouTube fan channel for the group.

The brawl between Shin and ADOR began as part of the long-running conflict with newly appointed CEO Kim and other board members of ADOR and NewJeans. Shin claimed that he was asked by ADOR executives to delete some of the videos featuring NewJeans.

Director Shin Woo-seok [DOLPHINERS FILMS]

ADOR denied the allegations and said it asked Shin to remove only the “Director’s Cut” version of the “ETA” music video, over which there was a conflict with a sponsor.

Shin claimed that ADOR lied to the public while trying to convince him behind his back and used him as a tool to distort the situation.

Girl group NewJeans [NEWS1]

The conflict between NewJeans and ADOR continues to heat up as the group and former CEO Min Hee-jin demand Min’s reinstatement.

Min sought reinstatement as CEO, arguing that her firing violated her shareholder agreement with HYBE and contradicted an earlier court ruling on May 30 that barred the exercise of voting rights to remove Min as CEO.

The Seoul Central District Court dismissed Min’s request on October 29.

BY YOON SEUNG-JIN [[email protected]]