NewJeans Faces Legal Setback, Independent Activities Halted

The K-pop group NewJeans has found its ability to engage in independent activities effectively blocked following a recent court ruling. On June 17, 2025, the Seoul High Court dismissed an appeal filed by the members against a previous injunction that prohibited them from pursuing solo projects without the consent of their agency, Ador.

This decision stems from an earlier ruling where the court accepted Ador's request to maintain its status as the group's management agency and to prevent the members from entering into advertising contracts independently. Despite the members' attempts to contest this ruling, the court upheld the injunction, leaving NewJeans unable to operate without Ador's prior approval.

Additionally, the court granted Ador's request for indirect enforcement, meaning that if NewJeans were to engage in entertainment activities without the agency's knowledge, they would face a fine of 1 billion KRW for each violation. If all members were to act independently, the potential damages could reach up to 5 billion KRW, making independent activities financially and legally unfeasible.

In light of these developments, NewJeans has not indicated any plans for a comeback. During a court session on June 5, the members expressed that their trust in the agency has been irreparably damaged, stating, "We have crossed a river that cannot be returned from."

The group has been on hiatus since their performance at ComplexCon in Hong Kong in March, where they announced that it would likely be their last show for the foreseeable future, respecting the court's decision to halt their activities. Since then, they have reportedly had no contact with Ador, suggesting that the rift between the two parties has deepened.

The court currently recognizes Ador's status as the management agency until a ruling is made on the ongoing lawsuit regarding the validity of the members' contracts, indicating that any unilateral actions by the members could be viewed as a breach of contract.

As the situation unfolds, many are closely watching NewJeans' next steps. The outcome of the contract validity lawsuit will likely determine their future activities, but the timeline for this resolution remains uncertain. In a situation where they cannot leave or return, NewJeans' next move remains shrouded in ambiguity.