NewJeans Members Ordered to Halt NJZ Activities After ADOR Court Victory:

The five members of K-pop girl group NewJeans—Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein—now rebranded as NJZ, have been legally barred from pursuing independent activities following a court ruling on March 21, 2025.

This follows their public exit from ADOR in November 2024, where they held an emergency press conference alleging contract violations and unfair treatment by the agency. The group renounced the NewJeans name and announced plans to operate independently as NJZ.

Seoul Court Rules in Favor of ADOR

The Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 50 ruled in favor of ADOR, enforcing an injunction that prohibits the NJZ members from engaging in:

Solo promotions
Signing new advertising deals
Public performances as NJZ

The decision was based on ADOR's claim that the group’s contracts are still legally binding and that the members breached their terms by seeking to operate outside of ADOR without lawful justification.

Court Hearing and Members’ Response

The court case stems from injunctions filed by ADOR in January and February 2025. During the March 7 hearing, ADOR alleged that the group cut ties without cause and tried to rebrand as NJZ to sign with another label.

In contrast, the members voluntarily appeared in court and argued that they were forced to leave due to discrimination and mistreatment within HYBE, ADOR's parent company.

Social Media Backlash and Fan Reactions

After the court’s decision, NJZ began trending on X (formerly Twitter), where the group faced significant backlash. Some users called them “mean girls” and criticized their handling of the situation, especially referencing previous comments involving other HYBE artists like BTS, LE SSERAFIM, and ILLIT.

Examples of fan reactions include:

“Mean girls getting the karma they deserve.”
“This is Hanni's fault. She held back from speaking in court and instead posted on IG.”
“Never lie when you know you're wrong.”

Upcoming Performance in Question

The group is scheduled to perform at ComplexCon Hong Kong 2025, from March 21–23, held at AsiaWorld-Expo. However, following the court’s ruling—coinciding with the event’s opening day—it remains uncertain whether the members will be allowed to perform under the NJZ name or if ADOR will intervene.