Last Updated:February 12, 2025, 11:17 IST
NewJeans recently announced their rebranding as NJZ, after parting ways from their agency ADOR last year.
Hanni is not a citizen of South Korea and had a work visa. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
K-pop sensation NewJeans (now NJZ) continues to make headlines following an ongoing legal dispute with their agency ADOR, a subdivision of HYBE. At a time when the five-member girl group has decided to rebrand themselves as NJZ and are set to debut as a whole new band in the coming days, speculations are rife that Hanni, a core member of the group has now refused to sign visa extension documents prepared by ADOR. Hanni is not a citizen of South Korea and an E-6 visa allows her to stay and work in the country.
Earlier in December, reports about Hanni’s visa expiration surfaced when the member was anonymously reported as an illegal immigrant. However, it seems that ADOR had been preparing beforehand to save her the trouble and made arrangements for her visa extensions, which the NewJeans member reportedly refused to sign, owing to the group’s strained relations with the label.
Hanni’s E-6 visa expired earlier this month and she is no longer allowed to carry out entertainment activities in Korea, states an Allkpop report. While that idol is yet to officially comment on the developments, ADOR in response to media questions said, “We cannot confirm anything regarding questions about Hanni’s visa.”
NewJeans-ADOR Dispute
In November last year, the five members of NewJeans notified ADOR of contract termination, and have now rebranded under a new name. The group is also set to participate in a concert in Hong Kong this March, marking NJZ’s first official appearance since exiting from their former label.
Reports suggest that Hanni’s expired visa which prevents her from working in Korea might have influenced the group’s decision to relocate abroad. On the other hand, while NewJeans as NJZ has unveiled the band’s new name and pictures, ADOR has filed a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contracts with the group, also requesting an injunction to bar members from signing new deals.
NJZ is set to debut at the ComplexCon Hong Kong festival where they will perform a new song at the three-day event. It is now yet to be seen if the group signs under any agency, considering ADOR’s stance that their previous contract remains legally binding.