NewJeans Explains Reasons for Activity Suspension

K-pop group NewJeans has revealed the reasons behind their recent suspension of activities. On March 26, BBC News Korea released a video titled 'NewJeans, Reasons for NJZ Activity Suspension' on their official channel. The report detailed two interviews conducted with the members before and after a court ruling that favored Ador's request for a provisional injunction against the group regarding their agency status and advertising contracts.

Member Hani stated, "The decisions we've made over the past year were the result of extensive internal discussions. Honestly, it's uncomfortable to keep bringing this up, especially since it involves another team, and we don't want to impact them in any way. If we don't express our thoughts and feelings publicly, people will only rely on media reports."

Minji added, "Every time we need to speak out, our story gets covered by many outlets. It’s understandably frightening and has made me reflect a lot about my future."

NewJeans strongly denied rumors suggesting that external adults were influencing their decisions. Hani explained, "I think people underestimate our ability to address these issues because we are young. They often say, 'They are just kids; they can't make decisions for themselves.' We take this situation very seriously. We always agreed that if even one of us didn't want to proceed, we wouldn't. All five of us had to agree."

Daniel shared his personal experience, saying, "In 2024, I tried to keep everything quiet while suppressing my feelings and ignoring what was happening around me. When this situation began, we were preparing for a comeback, but at some point, my bottled-up emotions felt like they were about to explode. It was painful."

Last November, NewJeans announced their termination of the exclusive contract with Ador and intended to pursue independent activities under the name NJZ. However, following the court's ruling on March 21, which granted Ador's injunction, their independent activities became impossible. The members announced their suspension of activities at the 'ComplexCon' event in Hong Kong.

Daniel recalled, "I expected a different outcome, and I remember everyone being shocked. Hyein noted, 'Some people think we are so famous that we can do whatever we want and say whatever we like. We have been holding back for so long, and now we are finally speaking out about the injustices we've faced. Honestly, the situation is not favorable for us socially right now, but I believe that speaks volumes. We have shown immense courage in voicing our concerns.'

Daniel emphasized, "We just want to continue working. We want to pursue what we love without being hindered by lies and misunderstandings," while Hani expressed, "The inability to perform is our greatest fear. That’s why we keep pushing forward. However, this fear always lingers in the back of our minds. Anything can happen, and until two years ago, we never expected to face such challenges as trainees. We don’t know what the future holds. There may come a time when we can no longer perform, and we want to avoid that situation at all costs. I wouldn’t call it fear; we just want to avoid that scenario."