On February 11, 2025, Sports Chosun reported that NewJeans’, aka NJZ, complex legal battle with their agency, ADOR, led to significant challenges for member Hanni Pham concerning her visa status in South Korea. ADOR responded by stating,
“(Regarding Hani’s visa question) we cannot confirm it and have not revealed our position.”
Hanni, who holds dual Australian and Vietnamese citizenship, reportedly declined to sign the documents necessary for the extension of her E-6 visa, which permits foreign entertainers to work in South Korea.
The discord between NewJeans and ADOR became public on November 28, 2024, when the group announced the termination of their exclusive contract with the agency, citing allegations of mistreatment and manipulation. Hanni, during a press conference, emphasized the psychological distress and time wasted due to the agency’s actions.
In response, ADOR refuted these claims, asserting that the contracts remain valid and expressing their commitment to supporting the group’s activities.
Meanwhile, Hanni’s E-6 visa, which is contingent upon sponsorship from a recognized South Korean agency, became a focal point of contention after her visa expired in December 2024.
The E-6 visa requires an active employment contract with a registered agency, along with supporting documents such as a guarantee letter from the agency’s representative and an employment recommendation from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
Without a valid E-6 visa, she is unable to legally participate in entertainment activities or reside within South Korea. Furthermore, engaging in such activities without proper authorization could lead to legal repercussions, including fines or deportation.
Securing a new E-6 visa would necessitate signing with another agency, a process that requires the consent of the previous employer—in this case, ADOR. However, on February 7, 2025, NewJeans announced their new group name as NJZ and stated that they would soon be under a new agency, fueling further speculations among fans.
K-pop group NewJeans rebrands as NJZ amidst legal battle with ADOR
NewJeans announced a rebranding, adopting the new name “NJZ,” on February 7, 2025, via their secondary group Instagram account, @njz_official. This change comes amidst an ongoing and highly publicized contract dispute with their managing agency, ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE Corporation.
The feud between NewJeans and ADOR traces back to August 2024, following Min Hee-jin being fired as the CEO and creative director of ADOR. The members expressed dissatisfaction with the agency’s management and called for Min’s reinstatement. On September 11, 2024, the group released a YouTube live video expressing their grievances and demanding Min’s return to her former position.
Despite their efforts, Min Hee-jin couldn’t return to her role as CEO but was rehired as the internal director of NewJeans, aka NJZ, on October 17, 2024. Following this, Min Hee-jin resigned from her new post from ADOR and HYBE on November 20, 2024, and also unfollowed the girl group on Instagram.
Consequently, on November 28, 2024, the members of NJZ announced the termination of their exclusive contracts with ADOR via a press conference, citing alleged mistreatment and manipulation by the agency. During a press conference, member Danielle stated,
“We want to freely pursue our artistic ambitions and release new music for our fans.”
In response to the group’s announcement, ADOR refuted the allegations and asserted that the contracts with the members remained valid. On December 3, 2024, the agency filed a lawsuit seeking legal validation of these contracts, emphasizing the importance of maintaining trust between artists and agencies in the K-pop industry.
Additionally, on December 3, 2024, the Korea Management Federation (KMF) expressed concerns over the unilateral termination of contracts by artists, emphasizing the potential harm to industry principles and investments.
On December 6, the Korea Entertainment Producers’ Association (KEPA) described NJZ members’ actions as “childish,” while KMF urged them to retract their claims.
Following the rebranding, NJZ announced plans to co-headline the music festival ComplexCon in Hong Kong on March 23, 2025. This event is anticipated to be their first major performance under the new name, where they intend to debut a new song.
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Edited by Somava