Hong Kong: South Korean K-pop group NewJeans has announced a pause in all activities after a court ruled against them in their ongoing legal dispute with their record label, Ador.
During their performance at ComplexCon Hong Kong on Sunday 23rd of March, the five-member group—who have attempted to rebrand as NJZ—told fans, “This will be our last performance for a little while,” after debuting their new song, Pit Stop.
The court ruling, issued on Friday, 21st of March, prohibits the group from organizing their performances, producing music, or signing independent advertising deals while their legal battle with Ador continues. Despite the setback, NewJeans has vowed to challenge the decision.
The Hong Kong concert marked their first public appearance since the ruling. After their set, members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein read a letter to fans in English and Korean. Hanni and Danielle shared their gratitude, saying, “This stage means so much to us, and every single one of you gives us strength just by being here.”
Acknowledging the difficulty of the situation, they stated, “It is tough for us to say this, but this might be our last performance for a little while. Out of respect for the court’s decision, we’ve paused all our activities for now.”
They emphasized that the decision was made to protect themselves, saying, “We had to speak up to protect the values that we believe in, and that was a choice that we don’t regret at all.” They also reinforced their commitment to fighting for their dignity, rights, and beliefs.
Their speech concluded an hour-long headline set at Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld Expo Arena, which drew a crowd of over 11,000 fans. Notably, they performed under their new name, NJZ, seemingly in defiance of the court’s ruling.
Ador responded that, criticizing the group’s decision to use a different name despite the legal order. “Ador regrets the members’ decision to proceed with a performance under a name other than NewJeans, despite the court order, and their unilateral announcement of a suspension of activities,”
the label stated. They added that they remain committed to supporting NewJeans under their existing contract and hope to meet with the members soon to discuss a resolution.
The dispute between NewJeans and Ador has been ongoing since August 2024, with the group publicly accusing the label of mistreatment, including claims that Ador deliberately undermined their careers.
Hanni also alleged workplace harassment. However, the Seoul court ruled that the group failed to provide sufficient evidence that Ador had violated their contractual obligations. The ruling stated that the company had fulfilled most of its duties, including financial payments.
The court’s decision severely limits the group’s ability to operate independently, making it difficult for them to rebrand as NJZ without facing financial penalties for breaching their contract.
NewJeans, known for their blend of 1990s R&B and bubblegum pop, has quickly become one of K-pop’s biggest acts. In 2023, they were the eighth best-selling artists worldwide and received a nomination for Best Group at the MTV Awards.
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