In brief
The popular K-pop group NewJeans faces a legal roadblock after a court ruled they cannot pursue solo projects without their label's consent, following claims of mistreatment.
The K-pop sensation NewJeans is facing a significant challenge after a South Korean court decided against their bid to separate from their record label, Ador. This ruling, delivered on Friday, stops the members from pursuing any commercial activities without the label’s approval, putting a pause on their planned releases and appearances. Earlier, the girl group, originally named NewJeans but recently rebranded as NJZ, announced last November their intention to part ways with Ador, citing unfair treatment. In response, Ador quickly filed a lawsuit to reinforce their managing rights over the group. NewJeans expressed disappointment in the court’s ruling, asserting their claim of a deep mistrust towards Ador and emphasizing that they weren’t given enough opportunity to share their side of the story. “The court didn’t grasp the total erosion of trust we’ve experienced,” they stated. On the other hand, Ador welcomed the court’s decision, declaring the ruling as a confirmation of their management role of NewJeans and expressed a willingness to strengthen ties with the artists. Both parties confirmed that NJZ will still appear at the upcoming ComplexCon festival in Hong Kong, amid ongoing tensions.This confrontation stems back to August 2024 when the group publicly demanded the return of their executive producer Min Hee-Jin after Hybe, Ador's parent company, replaced her as CEO. This prompted the band’s decision to sever ties with the label when their request was denied. With tensions high, the saga of NewJeans continues to captivate fans as they navigate through these turbulent waters in the K-pop industry.
