The K-pop world is abuzz with the news of NewJeans, a popular girl group from South Korea, announcing a temporary halt to their activities. This sudden move comes on the heels of a court ruling that prohibited them from leaving their management agency, Ador, to pursue independent projects.
The decision was made after a Seoul court ruled in favor of Ador, stating that NewJeans’ claims of the agency’s misconduct were not sufficient to justify their departure. The court also noted that Ador had fulfilled most of its contractual obligations, including payment of wages.
This verdict has significant implications for NewJeans, as it means they cannot proceed with their plans to work independently, at least for the time being. The group’s attempt to rebrand themselves as “NJZ” may also be put on hold, as it could be deemed a breach of contract, potentially resulting in severe financial penalties.
The dispute between NewJeans and Ador began in August 2022, when the group’s mentor, Min Hee-jin, was removed from her position by Hybe, Ador’s parent company. NewJeans demanded that Min be reinstated, but Hybe refused, leading to a public feud between the group and their management agency.
In a live stream, the group members accused Ador of attempting to undermine their careers and made several other allegations against the agency. One of the members, Hanni, even claimed that she had been bullied while working with Ador.
In November, NewJeans held a press conference to announce their decision to part ways with Ador and Hybe, citing the agencies’ alleged misconduct and claiming that they were no longer authorized to represent them as artists. However, this move was met with a lawsuit from the agencies, which ultimately led to the court ruling against the group.
As a result of the court’s decision, NewJeans has announced that their recent performance at ComplexCon in Hong Kong would be their last for the time being. The group’s future remains uncertain, and fans are left to wonder what’s next for this talented but embattled K-pop group.
Source: BBC