NewJeans Halts All Activities Completely After Losing Court Case and Holding Final Show in Hong Kong

Two days after losing their legal dispute with their agency ADOR, the global K-pop group NewJeans held a performance in Hong Kong on March 23 (local time) under the new name “NJZ.” The five members performed their new song “Pit Stop” in front of over 11,000 fans at AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong’s largest concert venue, during the ComplexCon Hong Kong festival. However, the show ended in a tragic outcome contrary to expectations. “As a sign of respecting the court’s decision, we have decided to suspend all our activities,” member Hanni (Pham Ngoc Han) said to the over 11,000 fans in both English and Korean. Members Muzin (Kim Minji), Hanni, Danielle Marsh, Haerin (Kang Haerin), and Hyein (Lee Hyein) took turns reading letters to the fans, explaining that although it was a difficult decision, it was “absolutely necessary at this time.” The members added, “But we will not give up and will keep moving forward.” On March 21, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that ADOR had the right to maintain an exclusive contract relationship with NewJeans. The court approved a temporary restraining order prohibiting NewJeans from independently releasing new music or holding international performances. This performance was NewJeans’ first public activity since unilaterally terminating their contract with ADOR in November 2024. NewJeans claimed ADOR had committed “unfair treatment,” “discrimination,” and “harassment in the workplace,” leading to their decision to end the contract. ADOR completely denied these accusations. After the court ruling, the members expressed apologies to their disappointed fans while emphasizing that breaking away from ADOR was a decision they “would never regret.” They added, “We had to speak up to protect the values of the idol industry.” In a statement regarding NewJeans’ decision, ADOR said it regretted that the members held performances under a name other than NewJeans despite the court order and unilaterally announced a suspension of activities. The agency also stated it would do its best for NewJeans under the valid exclusive contract and wanted to meet with the artists as soon as possible to discuss their future path. ADOR claims their contract with NewJeans remains valid until July 2029. This case could have a widespread impact on the entire K-pop industry. South Korea’s five major music agencies argued at a press conference in February that if NewJeans/NJZ were allowed to terminate their contract with ADOR, it could “destroy the K-pop industry from within.” The next legal proceeding is scheduled for April 3, when NewJeans will file a lawsuit to determine the legality of terminating their contract with ADOR. HYBE is the parent company of the global K-pop superstar BTS. NewJeans’ departure is impacting HYBE’s strategy to fill the activity gap caused by BTS members’ military service obligations. Although HYBE recorded its highest-ever sales of 22.5 billion won (1.58 billion dollars) in the 2024 fiscal year, its operating profit dropped by 38% compared to the previous year, reaching only 18.4 billion won (128.7 million dollars). The company attributed this decline to BTS’s temporary hiatus, changes in sales mix due to new debuts, and strategic investments in infrastructure.