NewJeans Members Abandon NJZ Project Amid Legal Dispute
In a recent turn of events, the five members of NewJeans have begun to erase all traces of their NJZ project following a court ruling that prohibits them from engaging in independent activities. The Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of Ador, a subsidiary of HYBE, granting a temporary injunction against the members' planned activities under the NJZ name.
Last month, the court accepted Ador's request to prevent NewJeans from pursuing their new project, which they had announced after declaring the termination of their exclusive contract with Ador in November. The members had sought a new name, NJZ, and even participated in a concert in Hong Kong under this title, with plans to release new music.
Despite the court's decision, the NewJeans members have expressed their inability to return to Ador, citing a breakdown in trust. During a hearing on April 3, they requested the court to consider whether they could still trust Ador, given the complete change in its management.
Ador responded by emphasizing that NewJeans cannot continue their entertainment activities without former CEO Min Hee-jin, acknowledging her contributions but asserting that the group can exist independently of her.
Following the court's ruling, NewJeans halted all NJZ activities and deleted their official social media accounts associated with the project, changing them to 'mhdhh_friends,' which represents the names of the five members: Minji, Hani, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein. All previous posts have also been removed.
Additionally, the parents of the NewJeans members have publicly denied rumors of a rift among them, stating that the members maintain a strong bond and mutual trust. They affirmed their unwavering support for their children's decisions.
The situation has also sparked discussions regarding a change in guardianship for one of the members, Haerin, which the parents clarified is unrelated to any family disputes and that all parties involved are in agreement.
As the NewJeans members and their parents continue to pursue contract termination, the future direction of the group remains uncertain, drawing significant attention from fans and the media alike.
