The legal dispute between ADOR and production company Dolphin Union over NewJeans’ “ETA” music video reached a new level this week, as former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin appeared in court as a witness.
At the hearing held on November 11 at the Seoul Central District Court, ADOR continued its ₩1.1 billion (about $800,000) damages claim against Dolphin Union and director Shin Woo-seok. The company accuses Shin of uploading an edited version of the ETA music video to the production team’s own YouTube channel without authorization.
Min Hee-jin, testifying on behalf of Dolphin Union, defended the director’s actions, explaining that sharing director’s cuts or promotional edits on personal or studio channels is “a common industry practice.” She added that most agreements of this kind are made verbally, saying, “It’s normal for creative teams to collaborate that way.”
ADOR’s legal team countered that such uploads require formal written approval, especially because the ETA music video was produced in collaboration with Apple. The company argued that Shin’s upload violated contract terms and caused financial losses to ADOR’s official YouTube channel.
When asked about this claim, Min strongly disagreed, calling the argument “nonsensical,” though the court cautioned her to refrain from emotional language.
The case has also reignited debate about Min’s management decisions during her time at ADOR, including allegations that she unfairly favored Dolphin Union with high-value contracts. Min dismissed the accusations as “baseless,” insisting that the production team worked efficiently and delivered quality results.
As both sides continue to clash over creative ownership, contract practices, and corporate responsibility, the court has requested further documentation before proceeding with the next hearing.