In a surprising turn of events, the popular South Korean K-pop group NewJeans has announced a hiatus from all performances and activities following a court ruling in their ongoing dispute with their record label, Ador. Just after unveiling their new song "Pit Stop" during a show at ComplexCon Hong Kong, the five-member group declared, "this will be our last performance for a little while."
The Seoul court's decision came after NewJeans sought to sever ties with Ador, claiming mistreatment and the unjust removal of their mentor, Min Hee-Jin, orchestrated by the label's parent company, Hybe. The court deemed that NewJeans had not adequately proven their allegations against Ador and imposed restrictions preventing them from organizing performances, creating music, or entering advertising partnerships during the ongoing dispute.
The group, now rebranding themselves as NJZ, emphasized the need for this temporary withdrawal to protect their interests and beliefs, insisting that standing up for their rights was a necessary step. Addressing an enthusiastic crowd of over 11,000 fans, members Hanni and Danielle expressed the emotional weight of their decision, stating that they "believe this is something we need to do at this moment."
Despite the ruling, during their Hong Kong concert, the band performed under their new name, which drew a stern response from Ador, expressing regret over the group's defiance in performing as NJZ instead of NewJeans. The representatives of Ador reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the artists, while the future for NewJeans remains uncertain as they navigate this challenging legal landscape.
