NewJeans’ “Freedom” Faces Setback Due To Court’s Ruling— What’s Next for the Group?
NewJeans (NJZ), who previously declared themselves “free agents,” have hit a legal roadblock in their quest for independent activities. With upcoming performances and new music releases in sight, the court’s latest decision has triggered widespread speculation within the industry about the group’s next steps.
The court ruled in favor of ADOR, stating: “Based on the arguments and evidence submitted by the debtors (NewJeans members), it is difficult to conclude that the creditor (ADOR) has violated any critical contractual obligations, or that mutual trust has been irreparably damaged to justify contract termination.”
In November of last year, the five members of NewJeans claimed their exclusive contract with ADOR had been nullified due to violations and began preparing for solo activities. However, ADOR maintained that the contract remains valid until July 2029 and did not acknowledge the termination.
As both sides turned to legal proceedings, the court’s ruling now prevents the members from pursuing independent musical careers without ADOR’s involvement — at least until a final verdict is rendered in the main lawsuit.
On March 23, NewJeans is set to headline the ComplexCon music festival at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. While the concert will go ahead as planned, the new song that was initially scheduled to be released on that day is now expected to be delayed or canceled.
According to the court’s decision, all activities including songwriting, composing, recording, performances, broadcast appearances, advertisement negotiations, and commercial ventures must be approved by ADOR. Any independent entertainment activity without such consent is now legally restricted.
The Hong Kong stage will proceed under the name “NewJeans” under ADOR. ADOR has reportedly dispatched staff to the location and stated: “As we have legally confirmed our status as NewJeans’ agency, we will fulfill our responsibility to support the artists. The upcoming ComplexCon performance will be fully supported under the ADOR label.”
Following the Hong Kong event, it is highly likely that NewJeans will not be able to carry out further activities until a new legal judgment is made. Despite the injunction, the group has reaffirmed their stance that they do not wish to return to ADOR. They have also applied for a trademark on their newly adopted name “NJZ.”
In a statement after the court ruling, NewJeans said: “This decision failed to fully consider the complete breakdown of trust between the members and ADOR.” They added: “We plan to challenge the decision through formal objection procedures, supplementing the case with additional evidence. The truth will eventually be made clear — it’s just a matter of time.”
Accordingly, NewJeans is expected to continue contesting the contract in the main lawsuit to confirm the invalidity of their exclusive contract, with the next hearing scheduled for April 3. It is anticipated that they will reiterate their unwillingness to return to ADOR during the trial.
An industry insider commented: “While nothing is final yet, this court ruling has brought some relief to entertainment companies and producers. However, given the complete fallout between NewJeans and ADOR, many believe it’s unlikely the group will resume activities under the label.”