NewJeans Shocks Fans with Hiatus Announcement After Legal Setback and Hong Kong Show
- Mar 25, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 22, 2025
K-pop band NewJeans played a sold-out show and debuted a new song in Hong Kong on Sunday, just days after a South Korean court upheld an injunction preventing the group from carrying out independent musical or commercial activities. But then, the band shocked the 11,000-strong crowd at ComplexCon Hong Kong by announcing they were taking a break “out of respect” for the temporary ruling, leaving fans stunned as they revealed they would pause all activities for now.
Court Decision and Legal Trouble
On Friday, the Seoul Central District Court sided with record company Ador in its ongoing legal fight with NewJeans, saying the band’s attempt to rename itself and break away from the label could “seriously damage” the latter’s reputation.
Band Speaks Out
Speaking on stage, band member Pham Ngoc Han, who goes by Hanni, said the group’s decision to “pause all activities… wasn’t easy,” but that “we believe this is something we need to do.”
Carrying prepared messages on slips of paper, each member addressed their fans (affectionately known as “bunnies”) in both Korean and English. A wave of disappointment spread through Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Expo, where the band was performing for the first time since attempting to rebrand as NJZ last month. Danielle Marsh, who goes by Danni, said on stage: “As strong as we are trying to stay, it is honestly taking a bit of a mental and emotional toll on us.”
Accusations and Legal Battle
The five-piece group has repeatedly claimed its contract with Ador is void amid allegations of mistreatment. The band’s members have accused the label of “manipulation,” “deliberate miscommunications,” and workplace harassment.
Ador has argued that NewJeans remains under contract, stating they can’t carry out entertainment activities without the label’s approval. The record company — a subsidiary of Hybe, the entertainment giant behind K-pop acts like BTS — has also denied allegations of mistreatment, saying most of NewJeans’ claims “have arisen from misunderstandings.” The lawsuit filed by Ador will be heard in full on April 3.
The Name Drama
In a conciliatory statement shared before the band’s Hong Kong show, Ador expressed support for the performance — on condition it took place under the name NewJeans, not NJZ. The group seemed to handle the situation carefully, with neither name appearing on screens flanking the stage, even though the festival’s other acts were explicitly named. But the name NJZ did briefly appear as part of visuals projected behind the group, while some band members wore tights saying “Chapter NJZ.”
A booth on the festival grounds sold merchandise with various NJZ logos, including plushie keychains, hats, and T-shirts, with some dedicated fans waiting for hours in line to buy the items.
The Band's Message to Fans
Danni addressed the issue on stage, saying: “No matter what our name is, no matter what kind of tough time we’ve been through, I feel like being able to share a moment like this with everyone, is what we live for.”
New Song Debut and Hiatus News
The band also seemed to avoid playing songs from its back catalog, with each member performing solo covers of other artists before coming together to debut a new song, “Pit Stop.”
On X, a hashtag referencing the band’s “re-debut” had over 50,000 posts within hours of the show. Fans at the AsiaWorld-Arena showed their support for the band — and disappointment with NewJeans’ planned hiatus.
Fan Reactions
“I hope they can stay strong, fight this battle well,” said 25-year-old fan Soie So. “We know this is going to be hard to win. To be honest, when the band announced the pause, I felt really touched. I thought they’re very brave.” But despite fans’ support, Friday’s ruling is a major setback for the group, according to legal experts familiar with the case. Speaking on Friday, Sangrock Kho, a lawyer at South Korea’s Law Firm Pil, said the court’s decision to uphold the injunction suggests NewJeans’ legal case is “either extremely weak or virtually nonexistent.”
The Court's Decision
“Under the Korean judicial system, in cases like this where an agency files an injunction to suspend an artist’s activities, the proceedings are generally very favorable to the artist,” he said. “This is because courts are usually reluctant to issue injunctions that could harm an artist’s career by restricting their freedom of occupation. Given that, the fact that the court has issued this type of injunction suggests that, after reviewing all the claims, evidence, and materials, the court concluded that NewJeans’ argument — that the breakdown in trust was entirely caused by Hybe and Ador — lacks sufficient legal backing.”
NewJeans' Success Story
NewJeans has quickly become one of the most popular K-pop groups since breaking onto the scene with their debut single “Attention” in 2022. They found international success with their EP “Get Up” just a year later, which included the hit song “Super Shy.” It topped the US Billboard 200, cementing their spot as global stars. Despite all the drama, their rise continues, and fans are still deeply invested in their future.
