A growing online discussion is stirring concern among NewJeans fans after a viral post on the Korean forum theqoo highlighted a potential long-term extension of the group’s contract. Titled “NewJeans’ Contract Period Keeps Getting Extended”, the post has surpassed 80,000 views, driven by a legal expert’s insight into the group’s ongoing dispute with agency ADOR.
The post featured screenshots from a YouTube video where a lawyer discussed the contract implications in light of the group’s current hiatus. According to the lawyer, if the legal case drags on without resolution and the group remains inactive, a suspension and extension clause could take effect.
“If they’re just letting the time pass without actively resolving it, the clause in the contract regarding suspension and extension will apply. That means the inactive period will be tacked on at the end, effectively extending the contract,” the lawyer explained.
The original contract reportedly ends in July 2029, but if the extension clause is triggered and ADOR wins the lawsuit, NewJeans’ exclusive contract could be prolonged well past 2030.
Adding further weight to the speculation, the legal expert is noted for having previously worked with Team Bunnies, a well-known NewJeans fan collective. This connection has fueled even more concern within the fandom, as some interpret the analysis as informed by behind-the-scenes knowledge.
The recent revelation that NewJeans‘ contract may be extended beyond 2030 due to legal clauses has sparked another wave of debate among Korean netizens. Several users shared strong and emotional takes on the group’s current situation, ranging from calls for a complete departure from the idol industry to sarcastic jabs about the group’s relationship with HYBE.
Comments on theqoo:
- They should stop chasing money and just pay the penalty to leave. Is being an idol the only path in life? It would be best for them to go back to school and take some time to find a new direction like normal people. If they genuinely care about music and have talent, they can always come back as composers or solo singers — no need to float around as half-celeb idols forever.
- I thought maybe it was better for them to just apologize and return to the company since they’re still young and just starting out… but the more I see, the more I think these kids are really not it. You can’t fix people like this, lol.
- Revolution, fighting!
- I hope they stick to their stance that they can’t learn anything from HYBE and refuse to work with them. There are so many hardworking artists and staff at HYBE — why should they have to work with NewJeans, who see them with that kind of attitude? Just go ahead and keep the revolution going.
- ADOR says they’re scouting for a new rookie boy group. Honestly, HYBE should just stall until NewJeans wastes their prime years. But let’s be real — this kind of passive-aggressive strategy only works because HYBE’s a big company. If it were a smaller agency, the CEO would be jumping into the Han River by now, and the other idols and staff would be branded for life. It’s terrifying.
The ongoing contract saga between NewJeans and HYBE continues to stir heated public discourse, especially as legal nuances hint at a possible extension of their exclusive terms beyond 2030. As emotions run high and both sides dig in, the final outcome of this dispute may not only shape the future of NewJeans but also leave a lasting mark on how idol contracts are viewed in K-pop moving forward.
