Criticism from Korea Music Copyright Association Over NJZ’s Media Statements
NJZ, better known as NewJeans, has recently come under fire from Choi Gwang-ho, the Secretary General of the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA). During an interview with Sports Today on March 24, 2025, Gwang-ho took issue with comments made by the girl group regarding their ongoing lawsuit with their agency, ADOR. He emphasized that the situation should not be portrayed as a broad issue affecting the Korean entertainment industry but rather as a specific legal dispute between the involved parties.
“When NewJeans members are interviewed by the foreign press, they talk about the issues between the two parties as music industry or Korean issues. As I’ve said many times, during our press conferences, them and their fans told us that the association should not intervene because it is a matter of lawsuit between the two parties. If this continues to be perceived as an industry issue and is dealt with in the National Assembly or other places, I think the association will have to respond.”
Gwang-ho’s comments reflect his concern that the group’s portrayal of the situation could escalate beyond an individual lawsuit and potentially involve broader industry implications. Although he refrained from naming the media outlet, it is believed that his statements are in reference to an interview the group did with TIME magazine on March 21, 2025.
“I hope that this is a bilateral issue and does not spread or expand into an industrial issue. Looking at the content of the recent interview, it is dangerous to talk about it as if it is not simply a bilateral issue but rather an issue for Korea as a whole, beyond the industry. I am also concerned that foreign media outlets are only extracting one side’s argument in the form of an interview.”
NJZ Voices Discontent Over Court Ruling Against ADOR
Currently, NJZ is engaged in a legal battle with ADOR stemming from their announced contract termination in November 2024, which they claimed was due to an alleged breach of contract. In a counter-move, ADOR filed for an injunction in January 2024 to prevent the group from entering into advertisement contracts without their approval.
By February 2025, the girl group had rebranded as NJZ, and on March 21, the Seoul Central District Court sided with ADOR, ruling that NJZ was prohibited from conducting independent activities. On that same day, NJZ’s members—Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein—expressed their disappointment regarding the court’s decision during their interview with TIME.
“Compared to everything we’ve been through so far, this is just another step in our journey. Maybe this is just the current reality in Korea. But that’s exactly why we believe change and growth are necessary. It almost feels like Korea wants to turn us into revolutionaries.”
Interestingly, reports indicate that ADOR allowed NJZ to perform under their original name at the ComplexCon festival in Hong Kong, where they debuted their new track, “Pit Stop.”However, amid these developments, NJZ announced a hiatus without ADOR’s consent, which further complicates the ongoing legal dynamics.
On March 24, 2025, NJZ formally submitted an objection against the court’s injunction that prohibited them from pursuing independent engagements. This legal contention follows a lawsuit filed by ADOR on December 5, 2024, seeking to validate the exclusive contract after NJZ’s abrupt termination announcement made during a press conference on November 28, 2024.
Looking ahead, the initial trial regarding the validity of NewJeans’ contract with ADOR is set to take place on April 3, 2025, marking a critical juncture in this unfolding saga.