NewJeans Announces Hiatus After Court Ruling in Record Label Dispute

K-pop group NewJeans is pausing activities after a court ruled against them in their legal battle with record label Ador.

 

Seoul, South Korea – South Korean K-pop group NewJeans has announced a hiatus following a court ruling that prevents them from organizing their own performances, making music, or signing advertising deals amid their ongoing dispute with their record label, Ador.

 

The five-member group, which recently attempted to rebrand as NJZ, made the announcement at ComplexCon Hong Kong on Sunday after debuting their new song, Pit Stop. During the event, they told fans, "This will be our last performance for a little while."

 

The court ruling on Friday determined that NewJeans had not sufficiently proven that Ador violated their contract, stating the label had upheld most of its obligations, including financial payments. The decision prevents the group from conducting independent activities without facing financial penalties.

 

NewJeans has been embroiled in a dispute with Ador since August 2024 after their mentor, Min Hee-Jin, was allegedly forced out by Hybe, Ador’s parent company. The group issued an ultimatum demanding her reinstatement and later publicly accused the label of undermining their careers. One member, Hanni, also claimed to have experienced workplace harassment while working with the label.

 

In November, NewJeans declared their departure from Ador, asserting that the company had lost the right to represent them. However, the Seoul court's ruling reaffirmed their contractual obligations with Ador, complicating their efforts to rebrand as NJZ.

 

'We Had to Speak Up'

 

During their Hong Kong performance, Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Heyin addressed their fans in English and Korean. "It is really hard for us to say this, but this might be our last performance for a little while," Hanni and Danielle said. "Out of respect for the court's decision, we've decided to pause all our activities for now."

 

The group emphasized that their legal battle was about protecting their rights. "We had to speak up to protect the values that we believe in, and that was a choice that we don't regret at all," they added. "We surely believe that standing up for our dignity, our rights, and everything we deeply care about is something we had to do, and that belief will not change."

 

Their performance, held at Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld Expo Arena in front of over 11,000 fans, was the group's first public appearance since the court ruling. They performed under the name NJZ, seemingly in defiance of the court’s restrictions.

 

In response, Ador issued a statement on Monday expressing disappointment over the group’s decision. "We regret the members' decision to proceed with a performance under a name other than NewJeans, despite the court order, and their unilateral announcement of a suspension of activities," the label stated. "Ador is fully committed to supporting NewJeans, consistent with the terms of our legally valid exclusive contract. We hope to meet with the artists as soon as possible to discuss the path forward."

 

NewJeans, one of K-pop’s most successful emerging acts, was the eighth biggest-selling artist in the world in 2023. The impact of their hiatus and ongoing legal battle remains to be seen.