Director Shin Woo Seok of Dolphin Kidnappers, who directed NewJeans’ 'Ditto' and 'ETA' music videos, has announced legal action against ADOR after disputing the company's recent statement.

On the 10th, Shin took to his social media, expressing frustration, saying, “Every time I see the statement, it’s infuriating.” He posted a lengthy message in response to ADOR's stance.

Shin stated, “This could have ended with an acknowledgment of wrongdoing and an apology, but why do they keep changing their words and lying? What about the recordings and emails we have? If they are so confident, why did they try to persuade the person spreading false information?” He emphasized, “All the content and channels we uploaded were agreed upon. Just because the management changed doesn't mean those agreements disappear.”

He continued, “Even the director’s cut that ADOR has raised an issue with was agreed upon by all three parties, including the ending. There was a request to modify part of the tagline, but there was no problem with uploading the video. Yet ADOR has dragged a third party into this dispute, causing harm. Despite informing ADOR that the third party didn’t want to be involved, they are still distorting the situation by using them.”

Shin also pointed out, “They’ve threatened with penalties worth tens of billions of won, and even Ngannou would be forced to delete the videos in such a situation. ADOR demanded deletion immediately, not proof. Now, after raising issues about copyright and portrait rights for content not on official accounts, they are only talking about the director’s cut. Are the kids in the other videos not NewJeans?”

He concluded by saying, “It looks like we’re headed to court. Legally, it’s said to be an easy case. It seems ADOR is just trying to buy time and avoid public scrutiny. Since they haven’t apologized, we will submit or release the recordings, emails, and evidence we have as needed, and we will file defamation lawsuits against CEO Kim Ju Young and Vice President Lee Do Kyung.”

Regarding the Ban Hee Soo channel, Shin stated, “Dolphin Kidnappers legally owns it. While ADOR claimed yesterday that Dolphin Kidnappers is free to operate the Ban Hee Soo channel, that’s a blatant lie. A few days ago, they were privately asking us to hand over the channel. Despite their refusal to recognize the previous agreement, they are now trying to manipulate public opinion.” He added that he would take responsibility and reopen the Ban Hee Soo channel to avoid further harm to fans.

Previously, on the 2nd, Shin claimed that due to ADOR’s demand, all NewJeans music videos, related content, and upcoming videos were no longer available for release. ADOR responded that they had only requested the suspension of the 'ETA' music video director’s cut. In response, Shin accused ADOR of lying and demanded an apology.

On the 9th, ADOR stated, “The contract between ADOR and Dolphin Kidnappers grants all rights to the music videos and derivative works to ADOR. Uploading videos featuring NewJeans IP on Dolphin Kidnappers’ channel without ADOR’s approval is a clear violation of the service contract. Deleting all content in response to pointing out these violations seems neither an act of creative suffering nor something done for NewJeans and their fans.”

They added, “We hope that actions that exacerbate the insecurity of artists and fandom by holding the YouTube channel hostage will cease.”

Full Statement from Director Shin Woo Seok

Every time I read their official statement, it’s infuriating.

Why do they keep changing their words and lying when all they need to do is acknowledge their mistake and apologize? What about the recordings and emails we have? If they’re so confident, why did they contact the person spreading false information to persuade them? When their own employee tried to stop them, they ignored it, but now they’re blaming the employee. It was the management who initiated things through threats and coercion, so why are they making the employee a scapegoat? To be clear, all the content and channels we uploaded were agreed upon. Just because the management changed doesn’t mean the agreements disappear.

In their statement, ADOR raised an issue with the director’s cut, but even that, including the ending, was agreed upon by all three parties, and while there was a request for a partial tagline revision, there’s no issue with uploading the video now. Yet, ADOR is dragging a third party into the dispute, causing harm. We clearly conveyed to ADOR through a separate message that the third party didn’t want to be involved, but they are still distorting the situation by involving them. The companies that participated in this project are still suffering due to this underhanded behavior.

What’s with all this talk about “the pure pain of the creator” in their official statement? There’s no such thing. When they threaten with penalties worth billions, even Ngannou would have no choice but to delete the videos. And ADOR demanded deletion immediately; when did they ever request proof? They raised issues with copyright and portrait rights for content not on official accounts, and now they’re changing their stance, claiming they were only talking about the director’s cut. Are the kids in the other videos not NewJeans? If we hadn’t deleted those videos, what would ADOR have said? Despite having evidence, it’s shocking how they can lie so easily.

It was a project I took on a long time ago with the desire to create a good piece of work, with genuine affection. I don’t understand why we have to suffer from internal conflicts at ADOR. We gave up our legitimate rights under their threats and coercion. And yet, based on their public statements, which are freely written as if the public has no way to verify the truth, ADOR would lose if the agreements were proven. It looks like we’re headed to court now. Legally, they say it’s an easy case. It seems ADOR just wants to drag things out and avoid public scrutiny. Since they haven’t apologized, we will submit or release the recordings, emails, and evidence we have as needed, and we will sue CEO Kim Ju Young and Vice President Lee Do Kyung for defamation.

Finally, regarding the Ban Hee Soo channel, Dolphin Kidnappers legally owns it. We are looking into ways to transfer the channel to the fans. ADOR claimed in their statement yesterday that Dolphin Kidnappers is free to operate the Ban Hee Soo channel, but that is a blatant lie. Just a few days ago, ADOR was privately asking us to hand over the Ban Hee Soo channel. Given their refusal to acknowledge the previous agreements, it all boils down to issues of copyright and portrait rights in the videos. This is nothing more than wordplay aimed at deceiving the public.

Honestly, I thought if I offered a way out by asking for just an apology, this situation would be resolved. I didn’t expect ADOR, an entertainment company, to make such poor judgments in front of the public. I also thought they would at least consider the position of the artists they are supposed to protect and the fans who must be confused, but I was wrong. Since I don’t want the fans to suffer any more, and since ADOR refuses to take responsibility, I will take it upon myself to reopen the Ban Hee Soo channel. If ADOR wants to sue me for this, they can go ahead.

I am reopening the Ban Hee Soo channel right now.

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