NewJeans to Perform at Major Year-End Music Shows Amid Contract Dispute

The popular K-pop group NewJeans is set to appear on all three major year-end music shows in South Korea. They will take the stage at the '2024 Music Bank Global Festival in Japan' on December 14, followed by SBS's 'Gayo Daejeon' on December 25, and MBC's 'Gayo Daejejeon' on December 31.

A key point of interest is whether the members will refer to themselves as 'NewJeans' during these performances. The group claims that their exclusive contract with Ador was terminated as of November 29, citing breaches of contract by the agency. They assert that they are not obligated to pay any penalties or engage in separate legal actions, and they intend to continue using the name 'NewJeans'.

However, the trademark rights and intellectual property related to their hit songs remain with Ador. If NewJeans's claims about the contract termination are valid, they may not be able to use the name without mutual agreement. This situation was evident when they performed at the Yoasobi concert in Incheon on December 7, where they were unable to use the name 'NewJeans'.

Despite this ongoing dispute, the lineup for the year-end music shows still lists them as 'NewJeans', raising questions about whether they will be able to use their name during the performances.