On April 9, 2025, ADOR made a significant announcement concerning NewJeans, highlighting their legal stance against harmful online content targeting the group. This decision follows a concerning rise in online harassment—ranging from unfounded rumors to serious derogatory remarks aimed at the artists.
The agency revealed that they have bolstered their efforts by expanding their team dedicated to collecting real-time evidence from various platforms such as X, YouTube, and Naver.
“Since the debut of NewJeans, ADOR has engaged in continuous monitoring and legal action against malicious posts. Due to the significant escalation in both the volume and severity of such content, we have reinforced our response efforts, including the appointment of additional personnel dedicated exclusively to this matter,”the notice stated.
The notice further emphasized,
“There will be no leniency or settlement under any circumstances in the legal proceedings regarding the artists’ rights.”
Furthermore, the agency confirmed that some grave instances of harassment have been forwarded to authorities, specifically the Seoul Yongsan Police Station, for potential criminal action.
Update on ADOR’s Legal Endeavors and Group Oversight
In addition to addressing the rising threats of deepfake content, ADOR announced that an individual had already been indicted for producing false information about NewJeans. The agency reiterated its commitment to pursuing all legal channels to enforce accountability.
“In addition, we are also taking firm action against deepfake crimes, which have become a major social issue, and are closely cooperating with law enforcement agencies regarding the production and distribution of fabricated videos targeting the artist.”
The agency further noted,
“A suspect who created and distributed false videos exploiting artists was recently indicted and referred to the prosecution while in custody.”
Additionally, the notice encouraged fans to report instances of abuse through HYBE’s artist rights platform and expressed gratitude for their unwavering support. This announcement comes at a time of heightened focus on NewJeans and their activities.
As tensions rise, NewJeans’ fandom has initiated legal action against online defamation. This update unfolds amidst ongoing legal disputes between the group and ADOR, with NewJeans previously seeking to terminate their contract due to allegations of mismanagement. In March, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of ADOR, granting an injunction that prohibits NewJeans from participating in any entertainment or commercial activities without prior permission from the agency.
A hearing regarding NewJeans’ objection to this ruling was conducted on April 9, where only legal representatives were present. ADOR’s representatives noted no new developments while NewJeans’ legal team opted not to comment.
Recently, the members updated their NJZ Instagram account, clearing previous content and rebranding it using their initials. Additionally, they released a new track titled Pit Stop before announcing a temporary hiatus.