In a surprise announcement during their Hong Kong performance, the members of NewJeans declared a temporary halt to their activities—without prior discussion with their agency, ADOR.
On March 23, NewJeans performed as headliners at ComplexCon Hong Kong 2025, taking the stage under a new group name, NJZ. During the event, the members debuted a new song and shared their decision to pause group activities.
Minji addressed the audience, saying, “We respect the court’s decision and will be stepping back for now—to take a breath and reset. But this isn’t the end. Please remember, we’ll be back.”
ADOR, a HYBE label and the group’s official agency, responded on March 24, expressing disappointment over the unilateral move. “Despite the court’s ruling, the members proceeded to perform under a different name and announced a hiatus without prior consultation,” the agency said. “ADOR remains committed to supporting NewJeans under a valid exclusive contract and hopes to meet with the artists soon to discuss the future.”
According to News1, the Hong Kong performance was organized independently and without ADOR’s involvement. ADOR staff present at the venue reportedly had no direct contact with the members, and the hiatus announcement was not coordinated with the agency.
This follows a recent court decision on March 21 by the Seoul Central District Court, which granted an injunction filed by ADOR. The ruling restricts the five members—Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein—from signing separate agency or advertising contracts, affirming ADOR’s status as their legal management.
After the court ruling, ADOR had stated it would provide full support for NewJeans’ performance at ComplexCon under the group’s official name. However, the members moved forward under NJZ instead.
This latest development is part of an ongoing dispute that dates back to November 28, 2024, when the members held an emergency press conference declaring their intention to leave ADOR due to unresolved issues. They announced plans to terminate their contract by midnight on November 29 and begin independent activities. The group later launched new social media accounts and, in February, unveiled their new name, NJZ.
In an emotional moment during their headlining set at ComplexCon Hong Kong 2025, NewJeans—performing under their newly chosen name NJZ—announced a temporary halt to their activities.
The group debuted a new single titled ‘Pit Stop’, captivating the crowd with a high-energy stage that may also mark their last performance for the time being.
Fighting back tears, Minji, Danielle, Hyein, Haerin and Hanni, addressed fans:
“We respect the court’s decision, so for now, we’ll be taking a step back to rest and reflect. This isn’t goodbye—we’ll definitely be back.”
The heartfelt speech left many fans stunned and emotional, as the group hinted at an indefinite pause in their career under the name NJZ.
Meanwhile, their agency ADOR released a statement the following day, saying it was not informed of the performance or the hiatus announcement, calling the move “deeply regrettable.” The agency emphasized that it still holds a valid exclusive contract with all five members and hopes to meet soon to discuss next steps.