NewJeans' Independent Activities Remain Restricted as Appeal Court Upholds Decision

On June 17, the Seoul High Court's Civil Division 25-2 upheld the decision to prohibit NewJeans members from engaging in independent activities without prior approval from their agency, Ador. This ruling follows a previous decision by the Seoul Central District Court in March, which granted Ador's request to prevent the five members from pursuing solo projects without consent. Despite the members' appeal against this ruling, the court dismissed their request, reinforcing that they cannot undertake independent activities until the main lawsuit concludes.

After the March ruling, NewJeans announced a halt to their activities during the Hong Kong ComplexCon, reportedly avoiding contact with Ador staff who were present to assist with concert preparations. In response, Ador filed for indirect enforcement against the members for proceeding without their staff, leading the court to impose a fine of 1 billion KRW for each violation, totaling 5 billion KRW if all members engage in independent activities.

Despite these developments, the members have expressed their unwillingness to return to Ador. During a recent court session on June 5 regarding the validity of their exclusive contract, NewJeans representatives stated, "We need to discuss with our clients, but the trust has already been broken. We have crossed a river that cannot be uncrossed."

Following the appeal court's decision, Ador released an official statement on June 18, reaffirming their position as NewJeans' agency and expressing gratitude for the court's ruling. They hope this decision will encourage the members to return to their group activities. As NewJeans approaches their third anniversary next month, Ador is committed to supporting their growth and success.