NewJeans Expresses Disappointment Over Court Ruling Amid Contract Dispute

The K-pop group NewJeans (뉴진스) has voiced their disappointment regarding a recent court ruling that has hindered their independent activities. In a statement to TIME magazine, they expressed that the court's decision was disheartening. Legal expert Go Sang-rok, from the law firm Kim & Chang, shared his concerns on the YouTube channel 'Jin-gyeok-ui Go-byeon', criticizing the group's response to the ruling. He stated that their approach could be seen as an attack on the industry and their peers, raising questions about their credibility.

Initially, NewJeans aligned with Min Hee-jin to challenge their parent company, HYBE, and other labels, but their actions have now escalated to dismissing the entire industry and making disparaging remarks about South Korea. Go noted that their disregard for legal processes and their shift to criticizing the K-pop idol training system in Western media could undermine their position.

NewJeans announced their intention to terminate their contract with their agency, Ador, during a press conference last November. In response, Ador filed a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the contract. On March 21, the Seoul Central District Court granted a provisional injunction to maintain the agency's status and prevent the signing of advertising contracts.

In their interview with TIME on March 22, NewJeans stated, 'We did not expect the K-pop industry to change overnight. This may be the reality in Korea, and we feel the need for change and growth. It seems that Korea wants to make us revolutionaries.'