On March 23, 2025, NJZ, previously recognized as NewJeans, declared a temporary break in their activities after performing at ComplexCon Hong Kong. This announcement followed a court injunction that barred the group from pursuing independent projects without obtaining prior consent from their former agency, ADOR.
Despite the injunction, NJZ proceeded with their scheduled performance at ComplexCon. The court ruling permitted this event, allowing the group to showcase their talent while still adhering to the legal restrictions imposed by ADOR.
During their appearance at ComplexCon, the girl group addressed the audience directly and shared their news regarding the hiatus:
“It feels heavy to deliver this news. Today’s performance might be our last one for a while. Out of respect for the court’s decision, we have decided to pause all activities for the time being. It wasn’t an easy decision, but we believe it’s necessary at this moment.”
The Legal Saga: NJZ’s Battle with ADOR
The origins of this legal conflict date back to November 2024, when members of NewJeans expressed their desire to terminate their agreements with ADOR, citing concerns of inadequate support and unfair treatment.
In December 2024, ADOR responded by filing a lawsuit to assess the legitimacy of the contracts in question. By January 2025, the agency sought a provisional injunction to effectively prevent the group from engaging in any independent activities while the legal dispute remained unresolved.
Following their rebranding to NJZ in February 2025, the group aimed to forge independent paths despite the ongoing litigation. However, on March 21, 2025, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of ADOR, granting the injunction that halted NJZ’s ability to engage in independent projects, including signing advertising contracts.
Post-ruling, ADOR announced its commitment to support the girl group on-site, facilitating their performance at ComplexCon. Nevertheless, they insisted that NJZ must perform under the NewJeans name, remaining under ADOR’s representation.
During their ComplexCon set, NJZ debuted a new track titled “Pit Stop,”which was originally intended to mark their re-introduction under the new name. However, due to the court’s injunction, they were permitted only to release the new song as NewJeans.
The complexities of this legal battle loom, with the first court hearing scheduled for April 3, 2025. This session will address ADOR’s request for judicial approval regarding the validity of NewJeans’ unilateral contract termination.