NewJeans has received a range of responses following a court decision granting an injunction in favor of their agency ADOR, preventing the group from pursuing activities independently as NJZ. Despite expressing disappointment with the ruling, some individuals within the entertainment and legal sectors believe that the outcome could ultimately be advantageous for the members.
The Seoul Central District Court granted ADOR's injunction request on March 21, prohibiting the NewJeans members from engaging in advertising deals or independent ventures without the agency's authorization. This ruling effectively halts their autonomous promotions until a resolution is reached in the main lawsuit.
In response to the court's decision, NewJeans conveyed their disappointment in a statement published on TIME magazine's online platform on March 22 (KST). The group expressed their view that the situation indicated a desire to push them towards being revolutionaries and emphasized the necessity for growth and adaptation in the evolving K-pop industry.
While NewJeans criticized the ruling, several industry experts view it as a protective measure. They suggest that if the injunction had been denied and the group had continued under the name NJZ, they could have faced significant legal consequences if the court later upheld their contracts with ADOR.
Lee Nam Kyung, from the Korea Management Federation, noted that the court's decision reaffirmed the validity of the ADOR-NewJeans contract. He highlighted that rejecting the injunction could have exposed the members to legal risks during their independent endeavors.
Attorney Ko Sang Rok from Phil Law Firm added that if the injunction had been dismissed, the members might have been vulnerable to contract breach lawsuits. The current decision could potentially prevent such legal ramifications and pave the way for negotiations between the parties.
Following the court ruling, NewJeans acknowledged the decision but criticized it for not fully considering the deteriorated trust between the group and ADOR. They expressed intentions to challenge the ruling through further legal actions.
Despite the ongoing legal dispute, NewJeans is set to perform at the Complex Concert in Hong Kong on March 23, with ADOR offering staff support for the event. Yet, it remains uncertain under what name the members will appear on stage.
Meanwhile, the official NJZ social media account teased an upcoming release, sparking varied reactions from netizens. Some questioned if this action breached the court injunction, while others welcomed the group's continued creative pursuits.
The legal conflict began in November 2024 when the NewJeans members alleged breaches in their exclusive contracts by ADOR and terminated them. ADOR, holding that the contracts were valid, pursued the injunction, which was fully granted by the court.