NewJeans Ordered by Court to Cease Independent Activities but Declares It Will Continue Main Litigation

On the 21st, the Seoul Central District Court granted ADOR’s interim injunction requesting that K-pop group NewJeans stop performing independently. The court ruled that ADOR’s exclusive contract was valid, stating there was insufficient evidence to support the claims made by the NewJeans members. The group immediately protested against this decision. In an interview with U.S. weekly magazine Time on the 22nd (local time), NewJeans said they were “disappointed by the court’s ruling” and added that they did not expect the K-pop industry to change overnight. They further stated, “Compared to what we’ve already gone through, this is just another stage in our journey.” In a statement posted on Instagram, the members argued that the fact their trust in ADOR had completely collapsed was not given sufficient consideration and revealed their plans to appeal the court’s decision. They also pointed out that “many people are reluctant to get involved in the lawsuit and are unable to cooperate due to threats of pressure and retaliation.” NewJeans unilaterally declared the termination of their contract in November last year, citing ADOR’s failure to fulfill obligations. At that time, the members accused ADOR of “unfair treatment,” “discrimination,” and “harassment at work,” while ADOR denied all these allegations. NewJeans expressed a desire to be called “revolutionaries” and emphasized the need for change and growth. Meanwhile, ADOR issued a statement saying it was “grateful for the court’s decision” and added that misunderstandings could be fully resolved if the members returned to the label. ADOR further stated it would be “fully present” at the “ComplexCon” event taking place in Hong Kong on the 23rd to ensure NewJeans could perform there. NewJeans has begun the process of appealing the interim injunction and intends to continue its legal battle against ADOR in the main lawsuit. Although the members were prohibited from engaging in musical activities without ADOR’s consent during the interim period, this restriction will remain in effect until the first-instance judgment in the main lawsuit is issued.