South Korean K-pop group NewJeans has announced they will take a break from all activities following a court ruling against them in their ongoing dispute with their record label Ador. This comes after the group, who have been attempting to rebrand as NJZ, announced during their show at ComplexCon Hong Kong that this would be their last performance for a while, following the premiere of their new song Pit Stop.
The court’s decision on Friday prohibits the group from organizing their own appearances, creating music, or signing advertising deals during their dispute with Ador. This ruling complicates NewJeans’ efforts to rebrand under their new name, NJZ, without incurring significant financial penalties for breach of contract.
This legal battle with Ador, a subsidiary of Hybe, has been ongoing since August 2024. The band’s mentor, Min Hee-Jin, was allegedly forced out by Hybe. In response, NewJeans issued an ultimatum for Min’s reinstatement which, when unmet, led them to publicly accuse Ador of undermining their careers. Member Hanni also claimed to have experienced workplace harassment while working with the label.
In a press conference in November, NewJeans declared their departure from the company, stating that Hybe and Ador had lost the right to represent them as artists. The Seoul court, however, ruled that NewJeans had not sufficiently proven that Ador violated its contractual duties, with most obligations, including payments, being upheld.
The Hong Kong concert on Sunday night marked the group’s first public appearance since the ruling, where they debuted their new song and addressed their fans. They expressed the difficulty of their decision to pause activities but affirmed it was necessary to protect themselves, allowing them to return stronger. Despite the court order, they performed under their new name, NJZ, in seeming defiance of the ruling.
Ador released a statement regretting the group’s decision to perform under a different name and their unilateral announcement to suspend activities. They reaffirmed their commitment to support NewJeans, in accordance with their legally valid exclusive contract, and expressed hope to meet with the artists soon.
NewJeans, recognized as one of the brightest new acts in K-Pop and the eighth biggest-selling act worldwide in 2023, are now navigating a complex legal landscape that challenges their artistic autonomy and career trajectory.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgr2vplwjeeo
