NewJeans’ 3rd Anniversary Approaches Amid Ongoing Hiatus and Industry Shifts
NewJeans, once hailed as the leading force of 4th-generation girl groups, is approaching a major milestone their third debut anniversary in July 2025. However, for over a year, NewJeans’ musical activities have come to a standstill due to ongoing legal conflicts with their agency, ADOR.
According to legal sources, the court recently upheld a provisional injunction preventing all five members of NewJeans from engaging in independent entertainment or advertisement activities without prior approval from ADOR. As a result, the group remains inactive, unable to conduct promotions or sign new brand deals autonomously.
Despite this, ADOR has issued a statement of support, saying, “As NewJeans celebrates their third debut anniversary next month, we are committed to supporting them for greater growth and opportunities. We hope they return to their rightful position and resume activities soon.”
A Shifting Landscape in the Girl Group Scene
In the absence of NewJeans, the K-pop industry has seen a notable shift in the girl group hierarchy, with several rising groups making headlines.
- KiiiKiii made an impressive debut, securing their first music show win just 13 days after release with I Do Me.
- Hearts2Hearts gained attention as newly appointed ambassadors for Seoul and released their new track Style.
- Baby Don’t Cry also entered the scene with fresh momentum.
- Meanwhile, ALLDAY PROJECT, a co-ed group that includes Annie, daughter of Shinsegae Chairwoman Chung Yoo-kyung, debuted on June 23 and quickly soared to the top ranks of domestic music charts.
- NiziU, under JYP Entertainment, recently held a successful solo concert in Hong Kong, reinforcing their overseas popularity.
- H1-KEY also joined the summer competition, releasing their mini-album Lovestruck on June 26.
The advertising world is also witnessing the ripple effects of NewJeans’ hiatus.
Theqoo commenters have expressed passionate and varied opinions as NewJeans’ anniversary approaches.
Comments:
- Why are they making such a fuss?
- I just feel sorry… time keeps passing.
- I wish I could hear more songs.
- Interesting. I felt turned off and deleted everything from my playlist.
- The song was good though…
- Where do they think they’re going back to? Seriously —_—
- So shameless~
As the K-pop industry evolves rapidly, NewJeans’ absence is palpable, yet the door remains open for their potential return. With their third anniversary approaching, fans and the industry alike await any sign of comeback or resolution. Until then, the spotlight shifts to the new wave of performers rising to fill the void.
