NewJeans (NJZ) vs. ADOR: Court Orders Group to “Stop All Independent Activities”

The Seoul Central District Court has sided with K-pop agency ADOR in its high-profile legal battle against girl group NewJeans, who have recently begun promoting under the name NJZ. The court ruled that the members must immediately stop pursuing independent entertainment and advertising activities.

On March 21, the Civil Agreement Division 50 (Presiding Judge Kim Sang-hoon) granted ADOR's request for an injunction prohibiting the five members from signing solo endorsement deals or engaging in unauthorized promotions.

“The members of NewJeans remain under an exclusive contract with ADOR,” the court stated. “Engaging in independent entertainment or commercial activity is inappropriate under the terms of their agreement.”

The conflict began in November 2024 when the members declared the termination of their contracts with ADOR, citing alleged breaches and mistreatment. They subsequently launched new activities under the name NJZ. In January 2025, ADOR filed a legal injunction to block those independent efforts, stating, “It’s deeply unfortunate that the members began planning activities under a new name before a legal ruling was made.”

In a statement, the NJZ members expressed disappointment with both ADOR and parent company HYBE, saying: “We tried to end things peacefully, but after seeing ADOR and HYBE act inappropriately and harm not only us but others as well, we’ve decided to no longer remain silent. We will speak the truth and fight back through the courts.”

Since then, ADOR has expanded its legal efforts to block all NJZ-related activities, including songwriting, vocal recording, and performances. The March 7 injunction hearing saw heated exchanges between both sides. NJZ had been scheduled to appear at ComplexCon Hong Kong on March 23, but that appearance is now in question following the court’s ruling.

Context: NJZ-ADOR Dispute

Harassment Allegations: NJZ member Hanni emotionally testified before South Korea’s National Assembly, citing disrespect and mistreatment within the agency. However, the Ministry of Employment and Labor ruled that K-pop idols are not classified as legal “workers” under current labor law, dismissing the complaint.

Min Hee-jin Resigns: Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin resigned amid accusations of a hostile takeover attempt and growing tensions with HYBE. She has announced legal action of her own.

HYBE Stock Drop: Following NJZ’s contract termination announcement, HYBE's market value reportedly fell by over $420 million, underscoring the economic impact of the feud.

NewJeans (NJZ)’s Recent and Upcoming Projects

Despite the legal battles, NewJeans ( NJZ) has remained active—until now. In early 2025, the group teased a new digital single and launched their rebranding campaign under the name NJZ, accompanied by a sleek visual concept and online fan activations.

They were slated to attend ComplexCon Hong Kong on March 23 as part of their first public appearance since rebranding, alongside rumored plans for a global fanmeeting tour later this year. The group had also begun working on original music, with behind-the-scenes content shared through now-restricted social media platforms.

Their future activities are now uncertain following the court’s injunction, but the members have vowed to continue fighting for their independence—legally and artistically. Fans are awaiting further updates via official channels and watching closely to see how this landmark case may reshape idol-agency dynamics across the K-pop industry.