NewJeans Members Challenge Court Ruling Amidst Activity Suspension

Members of the K-pop group NewJeans—Minji (민지), Hani (하니), Danielle (다니엘), Haerin (해린), and Hyein (혜인)—have announced a suspension of their activities and filed an appeal against a court ruling that has halted their independent endeavors. Despite the support from their fanbase, known as Bunnies, the situation appears grim.

On March 21, the Seoul Central District Court's Civil Division 50, presided over by Chief Judge Kim Sang-hoon, accepted a provisional injunction filed by Ador against the five members, prohibiting them from engaging in activities related to their contracts and advertising agreements.

The court's decision cited several factors, including the dismissal of Ador's CEO Min Hee-jin leading to a production gap, comments from HYBE's CEO Park Ji-won about giving the members extended leave, and various disputes involving directors and reports that undermined NewJeans' brand integrity. The court concluded that the evidence presented by the members did not sufficiently demonstrate that Ador had violated significant obligations of their exclusive contract.

Although the court did not recognize the members' claims of 'breach of trust,' they are preparing to contest the ruling. The fanbase, Bunnies, has expressed their support through social media, stating that they have consulted various legal experts to assess the situation objectively.

Bunnies reported that they have met with four major law firms, three former judges, and a current prosecutor with 17 years of experience to discuss the case. They acknowledged the confusion among fans but assured that extensive discussions are ongoing, and they are preparing a statement addressing the key legal issues.

While the members and their supporters remain hopeful, the path ahead is challenging. The appeal submitted to the Seoul Central District Court will be reviewed by the same panel that issued the initial ruling, which did not accept any of the members' claims. Legal experts suggest that overturning the decision may be difficult.

Some lawyers have expressed skepticism about the members' prospects, with one stating that the likelihood of losing the case is high. They noted that if the case goes to appeal, it could take over three years to resolve, raising questions about the benefits of such a dispute for NewJeans in light of the fast-changing music industry.

Conversely, a lawyer who has previously supported the members emphasized that the case should not devolve into a blame game over contract termination. They argued that the critical issue is the irreparable breakdown of trust between Ador and NewJeans, which must be proven, as legal precedents recognize the destruction of trust as grounds for contract termination.

On March 23, the members performed at the ComplexCon Hong Kong event, stating, "This may be our last performance for a while. We have decided to respect the court's ruling and halt all activities. It was not an easy decision, but we are determined to come back stronger. Please know this is not the end; we will return with bright smiles."

In response, Ador expressed disappointment over NewJeans' decision to perform under a different name and their unilateral announcement of a suspension, stating, "We are committed to doing our best for NewJeans under a valid exclusive contract and hope to meet with the artists soon to discuss the future."