NewJeans vs. ADOR: Legal Battle Escalates as ‘NJZ’ Gets Wiped, Fans Protest, and Min Hee-jin’s Old Post Resurfaces

The rift between K-pop girl group NewJeans and their label ADOR continues to unfold as legal battles, fan protests, and internal family disputes dominate headlines. In recent weeks, the group halted all independent activities under the name ‘NJZ’, fans launched another truck protest urging a return to ADOR, and past social media posts from former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin resurfaced — fueling both support and speculation.

⚖️ Legal Showdown: Exclusive Contract Dispute Takes Center Stage

The conflict officially escalated when NewJeans announced the termination of their exclusive contract with ADOR in late 2023, citing a lack of trust in the agency's new leadership following the removal of CEO Min Hee-jin. On March 21, the Seoul Central District Court granted an injunction filed by ADOR, blocking NewJeans from pursuing independent activities or signing external contracts — effectively freezing the group’s efforts to promote under the alternative name ‘NJZ’.

During the first hearing on April 3, NewJeans' legal representatives argued that the group could no longer operate under ADOR due to the “forced ousting” of Min Hee-jin. ADOR denied the claim, stating that Min left voluntarily after refusing roles other than CEO, and that NewJeans is fully capable of continuing under the agency without her.

📢 NJZ Wiped Clean: Group Complies with Court Ruling

In full compliance with the court's decision, NewJeans has erased all digital traces of NJZ. The group’s NJZ-themed social media accounts have been rebranded to @mhdhh_friends, a new handle referencing the initials of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein. All NJZ-related posts have been removed, and even the parents’ accounts supporting the members have switched away from NJZ branding to reflect individual support for their children.

The group had debuted the NJZ name during their March 23 performance at ComplexCon Hong Kong, where they premiered the unreleased track “PIT STOP.” However, following the injunction, all promotions were paused indefinitely.

💬 Fan Reactions: Bunnies Demand Respect for Court Ruling

Not all fans are siding with NewJeans’ decision. On April 7, fans under the name Bunnies staged a protest truck demonstration outside HYBE headquarters in Seoul. The digital signs carried pointed messages:

“Respecting their wishes? Helping them down the wrong path isn’t support — it’s neglect.”

“Still don’t see where this lawsuit is going? Wake up — returning is the real win.”

“Bringing up family matters — who's really using kids as shields here?”

The protest came in response to ongoing rumors of internal disputes within the members’ families. One such case involves Hyein, a minor, whose parents reportedly held differing views on the lawsuit, leading to a custody-related court filing. The parents’ union has since denied any rift, asserting that all five members are united in their decision to leave ADOR.

🐰 Min Hee-jin’s “Resignation Post” Resurfaces

Adding another layer to the controversy, a November 2023 social media post from Min Hee-jin has resurfaced. In it, she shared an illustration of a cartoon rabbit holding a sign that read “I quit”, paired with the track “Free” by Deniece Williams — a move now interpreted as a symbolic exit message from ADOR.

Min had previously mentioned at a December event that she had “vented her frustrations” when stepping down but chose not to publicize the full story. ADOR maintains she was offered continued roles but declined, stating she would only remain if reinstated as CEO.

🧩 The Bigger Picture

With two more court hearings scheduled — one for April 9 to address NewJeans’ objection to the injunction, and another on June 5 for the core contract validity case — the road ahead remains complex.

Despite NJZ’s suspension, the five members remain publicly united, with both themselves and their parents denying any internal conflict. But with legal restrictions in place and fan division growing, the NewJeans-ADOR conflict is shaping up to be one of the most consequential industry battles in recent K-pop history.