Experts say court injunction may benefit NewJeans - here’s why

NewJeans is facing mixed reactions after a court granted an injunction in favor of their agency ADOR, blocking the group from pursuing independent activities under the name NJZ. While the group expressed disappointment in the ruling, some in the entertainment and legal industries believe the decision may ultimately benefit the members.

On March 21, the Seoul Central District Court accepted ADOR’s request for an injunction that prohibits the five NewJeans members from signing advertising deals or continuing activities outside the agency’s control. The ruling effectively suspends their independent promotions unless they win the main lawsuit.

In a statement published in TIME magazine’s online edition on March 22 (KST), NewJeans said, “We are disappointed by the court’s decision. Korea seems to want to turn us into revolutionaries.” The group added, “We never expected the K-pop industry to change overnight, but we believe growth and change are necessary to face reality.”

Despite the group’s criticism, several industry officials see the ruling as a safeguard. If the injunction had been dismissed and the members had continued activities under NJZ, they could have been liable for substantial damages if the court later ruled their contracts with ADOR were still valid.

Lee Nam Kyung, director of the Korea Management Federation, commented, “The court’s decision reaffirms that the contract between ADOR and NewJeans remains legally binding. Had the injunction been denied, the members would have carried significant legal risk during their independent promotions.”

Attorney Ko Sang Rok of Phil Law Firm added, “Had the court rejected the injunction, the members could have faced lawsuits for breach of contract. This decision may prevent such consequences and offers an opportunity for negotiation between the parties.”

Shortly after the ruling, NewJeans released a statement acknowledging the court’s decision but criticized it for “failing to fully consider the breakdown of trust between the members and ADOR.” The group indicated they would challenge the ruling through further legal action.

Despite the ongoing legal dispute, NewJeans is scheduled to perform at the Complex Concert in Hong Kong on March 23. ADOR has confirmed that it will provide staff support for the event. However, it remains unclear under which name the members will appear on stage.

Meanwhile, the NJZ official social media account posted a teaser hinting at an upcoming release. The post quickly went viral, with netizens divided in their reactions—some questioned whether such activity violates the court’s injunction, while others welcomed the group’s continued creative expression.

The legal battle began in November 2024 when the five members claimed that ADOR had breached their exclusive contracts and declared them terminated. ADOR, maintaining that the contracts were still valid, filed the injunction, which was fully granted by the court.