While ADOR continues to wrestle with mounting controversy due to its ongoing legal battle with NewJeans, the agency has taken many by surprise by announcing its first-ever boy group audition. On June 12, the company officially launched the 2025 ADOR Boys Global Audition, a wide-reaching call for male talent across various fields. Beyond the typical singing and dancing categories, the audition welcomes skills in rap, acting, songwriting, photography, v-logging, and more, aiming to scout diverse and modern talent.
The timing of the announcement, however, has caused a stir. With ADOR still in a public dispute with its only active group, NewJeans, over contract nullification, many K-pop fans and industry watchers are questioning the logic of launching a new group amid such turmoil. The optics have led to both ridicule and skepticism online. Social media users mockingly dubbed the potential group names like “NewTrousers”, poking fun at what they see as ADOR’s attempt to mirror the NewJeans brand despite the fallout.
The backlash is compounded by ADOR’s credibility being under fire. Netizens argue that the agency should resolve internal issues with NewJeans first before attempting to expand. The audition, some feel, is a poorly timed distraction—or worse, an effort to start afresh without addressing the reputational damage already done.
Despite the criticism, ADOR seems set on moving forward. The audition is open to male applicants born in 2006 or later. Online applications run until July 2, followed by in-person auditions in multiple cities across South Korea and 18 international locations. It’s an ambitious endeavor for an agency currently embroiled in one of K-pop’s most high-profile legal and public relations storms.
At the heart of the issue is ADOR’s ongoing conflict with NewJeans, all five members of whom have filed for contract termination. The case is closely tied to a larger battle involving HYBE and former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin, who is accused of internal manipulation and strategic interference. As lawsuits unfold, fans are left wondering how the debut of a new boy group fits into an agency currently struggling to maintain its core artist lineup.
Whether this bold move signals ADOR’s attempt to rebuild or simply adds fuel to the fire remains uncertain. But for now, public sentiment remains divided—curious about the outcome, yet wary of the motives.