NewJeans’ members greet fans during their performance at ComplexCon at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, Sunday. Captured from YouTube
By KTimes
NewJeans members have announced they will pause group activities, saying they intend to return stronger in the future.
The statement came during their performance on Sunday at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, where the five members — Danielle, Minji, Hyein, Haerin, and Hanni — appeared as the final act on the third day of the music festival ComplexCon. It was their first public appearance since a court ruled in favor of their agency Ador’s injunction on March 21.
Each member performed solo before coming together to unveil a new song, “Pit Stop.”
During the Hong Kong performance, Minji said, “We knew from the beginning that this wouldn’t be easy — probably better than anyone else. While we accept the court’s decision and the process, we’ll continue to speak up to protect one another. That’s a choice we’ll never regret.”
Hyein added, “Some people might think it would’ve been better if we had just stayed with Ador and endured it quietly. But for us, this was about protecting ourselves. We believe that only by doing so can we come back stronger. That’s why we stand by our decision without a single regret.”
Following the court’s decision to uphold Ador’s request to ban individual promotional activities and advertising contracts without agency approval, this event was also the first time fans were able to see all five members together.
Neither “NewJeans” nor “NJZ” — the alternative name under which they had carried out independent activities — was mentioned during the show. However, fans in the audience were heard chanting “NJZ” in support of the group.
After performing “Pit Stop,” the members shared an emotional message with fans.
“We’re going to take some time to regroup and gather our strength before moving forward again. Please don’t see this as the end — we will return, and when we do, we want to meet you again with bright, smiling faces,” Minji said. “We know this may be disappointing and upsetting for Bunnies (NewJeans’ fandom), but this is how we protect ourselves, and only by doing this can we return stronger.”
NewJeans’ members speak to the press after attending a court hearing on Ador’s injunction to restrict independent activities and advertising contracts, held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, Seoul, March 7. Yonhap
On March 21, the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 50 granted Ador’s injunction to prevent the members from independently signing advertising deals or engaging in entertainment activities without the agency’s prior consent.
Unless the members win in a full civil trial, they are now restricted from carrying out solo promotions without Ador’s approval.
In the music industry, some observers speculated that NewJeans’ decision to suspend activities may have been influenced by the backlash surrounding their recent interview with a foreign media outlet.
On March 22, the group expressed disappointment over the court’s decision in an interview with Time magazine, with remarks that appeared to criticize the ruling. Their comments, including references to Korean society and the suggestion that they were being positioned as revolutionaries, sparked controversy online.
Some critics accused the group of disparaging the entire K-pop industry while framing a contractual dispute as a broader societal issue, with others suggesting they were behaving as if above the law.
NewJeans members are expected to focus on their legal battle for the time being. Emphasizing that the injunction ruling was only a provisional decision, they plan to present their arguments during the main lawsuit to determine the validity of their exclusive contracts.
A court hearing is set for April 3, and the members plan to appeal the injunction. However, legal experts say overturning the decision will be difficult without new evidence.
The official poster for ComplexCon Hong Kong, featuring NewJeans as the Sunday headliner. Courtesy of ComplexCon
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.