On March 21, 2023, the girl group NewJeans, also known as NJZ, submitted a legal objection to the Seoul Central District Court. This move comes in response to an injunction that was granted to their label, ADOR, which restricts the group from engaging in independent artistic activities.

Background of the Legal Proceedings

The injunction ruling in favor of ADOR was made on the same day NewJeans filed their objection. As stated in reports from the Korea JoongAng Daily, the group’s management asserted that they were not afforded adequate opportunity to present their case during the injunction proceedings, which only included one hearing prior to the court’s ruling.

NewJeans’ representatives expressed concerns regarding the lack of balance in information access. They noted that while ADOR and its parent company, HYBE, were privy to comprehensive details about the members’ entertainment engagements, the individual members struggled to obtain necessary information, leading to feelings of isolation and pressure.

Statement from NewJeans’ Parents

On the same day as the legal objection, NewJeans’ parents issued a statement on Instagram addressing the court’s decision. They emphasized that the ruling failed to acknowledge the substantial breakdown of trust experienced by the members towards ADOR.

“We believe that the decision did not fully take into account the complete breakdown of trust the members have experienced toward ADOR,” the statement read.

Concerns About Fair Treatment

In their legal objection, NewJeans emphasized their commitment to fulfilling obligations under their exclusive contracts prior to the current dispute. They suggested that, despite their compliance, ADOR and HYBE had treated them unfairly, contributing to the deterioration of trust between the parties.

“Above all, until the point the exclusive contracts were terminated, we had diligently fulfilled our obligations without any wrongdoing,” they added. “In contrast, ADOR and HYBE, behind the scenes, continued to treat us unfairly and unequally.”

Upcoming Performances and Group Status

Amidst these developments, NewJeans made a public appearance at ComplexCon in Hong Kong on March 23, marking their first performance since their rebranding earlier in February. Notably, during their set, they debuted a new song titled “Pitstop,” although the group also announced a hiatus in compliance with the court’s injunction.