NewJeans Shines at ComplexCon Hong Kong Amid Legal Challenges
On March 28, 2025, the South China Morning Post highlighted the significant presence of the South Korean girl group NewJeans (NJZ) at the ComplexCon Festival hosted in Hong Kong. The three-day festival, which took place from March 21 to 23 at AsiaWorld-Expo, witnessed a remarkable turnout of 35,000 attendees—a 16% rise from the previous year.
During the festival’s concluding day, NewJeans captivated a peak audience of 22,911 fans during their performance, marking it as their final show before a planned hiatus. The event proved to be a major financial success, generating HK$87.5 million (approximately US$11.3 million) and attracting attendees from Hong Kong, mainland China, and various regions worldwide.
Despite embroiling in ongoing legal disputes with their former label ADOR, NewJeans continued to attract substantial fan support. The popularity of their merchandise was evident as lines formed early, resulting in the booth selling out within hours. However, the excitement of their performance was tempered by an emotional announcement regarding their temporary withdrawal from public engagements due to legal restrictions.
Since mid-2024, NewJeans has been entangled in a legal battle with ADOR, with a significant court ruling on March 21 affirming ADOR’s control over the group, limiting the members’ ability to manage their own careers. In response, the members expressed disheartenment but remained committed to their fanbase.
Fans expressed their unwavering support across social media platforms, celebrating the resilience of NewJeans and their undying popularity. One user, @kkunjz, summed it up succinctly:
“oh njz you will always be loved.”
Numerous supporters resonated with this sentiment, emphasizing the group’s continued relevance and sales success despite the ongoing challenges. Comments included:
“DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH NJZ SALES?!?,”an X user wrote.
“Waooo This is amazing.. there is no doubt about their power,”another person commented.
“My girls will always be famous no matter how much they try to distort it,”a fan mentioned.
“NJZ’s impact has never been greater. more and more ppl are showing their support. kmedia is trying to downplay complexcon but the numbers speak for themselves. this is NJZ. and they’re as relevant as ever,” a netizen wrote.
Furthermore, many fans noted that ComplexCon achieved a new attendance record, affirming the group’s successful presence. An enthusiastic supporter remarked:
“ComplexCon broke the record of attendance antis might get hit twts hating on njz but irl they will always be loved and successful,”a fan commented.
“We may not be as jobless as the haters just camping in online forums but for NJZ we’d travel across the world just to see them,”an X user remarked.
Insight Into NewJeans’ Grand Finale at ComplexCon
NewJeans’ set was highly anticipated, drawing over 11,000 fans to the AsiaWorld Expo Arena. During the performance, the members each showcased their unique talents through individual segments, breaking from their classic synchronized routines. They also introduced a new track, “Pit Stop,”before taking a moment to engage directly with the audience.
In a heartfelt moment, the members shared their decision to take a break, expressing their gratitude for fan support in both English and Korean. They acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, emphasizing that their choice was necessary in light of the recent court ruling.
Many fans were visibly moved, as this performance marked NewJeans’ last scheduled appearance for the foreseeable future. Billboard reported the poignant words from the members:
“It is really hard for us to say this, but this might be our last performance for a little while. Out of respect for the court’s decision, we’ve decided to pause all our activities for now. It wasn’t an easy decision, but we believe this is something we need to do at this moment.”
“We understand and know that today’s news might be disappointing or upsetting but it was not an easy decision for us to make either. But at the moment for us, it’s about protecting ourselves so that we can come back even stronger.”
The festival culminated in high engagement at their merchandise booth, which remained a highlight of the event, solidifying NewJeans’ enduring impact and connection with their fanbase despite the challenges ahead.