ADOR disputes director's reasons for deleting NewJeans content

NewJeans' agency ADOR disputed the claims surrounding content deleted by the group's music video director Shin Woo-seok, clarifying that it requested him to remove only footage "going against copyright."

Girl group NewJeans at Seoul Fashion Week held at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Jung District, central Seoul, on Tuesday [YONHAP]

NewJeans' agency ADOR disputed the claims surrounding content deleted by the group's music video director Shin Woo-seok, clarifying that it requested him to remove only footage "going against copyright."

Shin, head of the production company Dolphin Kidnapping and the director of NewJeans' music videos for "Ditto" and "ETA," said on Monday that ADOR had requested the removal of all videos related to NewJeans from his social media account and his YouTube channel, “Ban Heesoo.”

"It seems there has been a policy shift at ADOR following a change in leadership. Due to ADOR's request, I can no longer share any videos related to NewJeans, including those that were uploaded or planned for future release,” Shin said on Instagram on Monday.

Shin had been sharing behind-the-scenes footage of NewJeans, including camcorder clips of the members, on his social media and YouTube channel. He had also planned to upload additional content, such as making-of videos for "Cool With You" and "ETA."

All NewJeans-related videos had been deleted from the YouTube Channel "Ban Heesoo" as of Monday.

“I don’t think further collaboration between Dolphin Kidnapping and ADOR is possible as of today” Shin continued, expressing regret that he could not keep his promises to NewJeans and apologizing to the fans who were waiting for the footage.

After Shin's statement sparked heated discussion among fans, ADOR issued a statement on Tuesday disputing his claims.

"The director's cut of the 'ETA' music video that Dolphin Kidnapping posted on their social media is an edited version containing elements that were previously in dispute with advertisers. This video was uploaded without the advertiser's permission," said ADOR in its statement.

The agency clarified that their request was specifically for the removal of a particular video and not all NewJeans-related content. "ADOR only requested that Dolphin Kidnapping take down the director's cut video," said ADOR.

ADOR further accused the director of spreading false information, stating, "Dolphin Kidnapping's director, Shin Woo Seok, is falsely claiming that ADOR requested the deletion of all videos related to NewJeans, including those on the Ban Heesoo channel."

The agency said they will do their best to “ensure that the deleted NewJeans content can be uploaded to ADOR's official channel in the future.”

Minji of NewJeans on Monday expressed her frustration that "nothing has been solved" regarding the ongoing conflicts within her agency, ADOR, in her first official statement addressing the dispute between the company's former CEO, Min Hee-jin, and HYBE.

“I was so frustrated with myself for not being able to solve anything,” Minji said on Phoning, a mobile app tailored for NewJeans, on Monday night. “I am so sorry that we’re going through this unnecessary trouble when there’s already not enough time in the day to focus on the good things.

BY WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]