What’s next for NewJeans?

Girl group says it will focus on April 3 hearing

NewJeans, currently embroiled in a legal dispute with agency Ador over their exclusive contract, abruptly announced a temporary suspension of all activities on stage in Hong Kong Sunday after their performance. The announcement follows a court order two days earlier, prohibiting independent promotions. The group is expected once again to assert the legitimacy of their contract termination during the main lawsuit hearing, scheduled for April 3.

On Friday, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of Ador’s injunction request, prohibiting NewJeans from engaging in solo promotions or signing advertising contracts without the agency’s consent.

In response, the group announced a temporary halt to all scheduled activities during a show at ComplexCon Hong Kong, saying they would focus on preparing for the main civil suit where they aim to prove that the contract with Ador was lawfully terminated.

The April 3 hearing marks the beginning of full trial proceedings, where both sides will exchange arguments and evidence. According to legal experts, such trials typically involve multiple hearings and procedures such as submission of evidence, witness questioning and issue clarification before a ruling date is set.

“It’s hard to predict the exact duration of a lawsuit. On average, a first trial takes around six months, but if the case is complicated, it can take longer — sometimes up to four to five years,” entertainment lawyer Bae Jin-sung of Law Firm Myoungjae told The Korea Herald in January.

NewJeans has made clear it has no intention of returning to Ador, even at the cost of a prolonged legal battle.

“From the start we knew this wouldn't be easy,” said member Minji at the Hong Kong show. “We will continue to raise our voices to protect one another. We have no regrets about our decision.”

Following the court's injunction decision, NewJeans stated they would challenge the ruling and that they would present stronger evidence during the main trial, which they believe can overturn the situation.

“We plan to reaffirm the validity of our contract termination at the hearing scheduled for April 3,” the group said in a statement Friday. “Unlike the injunction process, the main lawsuit allows us to freely utilize procedural tools under civil law to obtain additional evidence that supports our claims.”

While expressing respect for the court's decision, the group emphasized that it believes the ruling failed to fully consider the complete breakdown of trust between the members and Ador.

“We will challenge the court’s injunction through a formal objection process, during which we plan to raise additional legal arguments and supplement our case with further supporting materials,” NewJeans said. “We believe that the truth will come to light — it’s only a matter of time.”

The court’s injunction was based on the reasoning that NewJeans failed to provide sufficient evidence that Ador had seriously breached its contractual obligations or that the trust between the two parties had irreparably collapsed.

“Based on the current claims and materials submitted by the respondents, it is difficult to recognize that the claimant (Ador) violated any major contractual obligations or that the mutual trust between the parties has broken down to an irreparable degree,” the court said, Friday.

Lee Hyun-gon, a lawyer who previously filed a complaint on behalf of NewJeans’ fans, Bunnies, against Ador and its parent company Hybe, said Sunday on his social media that NewJeans’ legal strategy may need to shift focus.

“This case shouldn’t be about assigning fault for the termination of the contract. Once things get muddy, it's hard to identify who’s responsible,” Lee said. “What matters is proving that the trust between NewJeans and Ador had irreparably broken down. Precedents show that such a breakdown of trust alone can be a legitimate reason for contract termination.”

jaaykim@heraldcorp.com