NewJeans member Hyein, whose group, known also as NJZ, is facing an injunction setback in its contract battle with Hybe’s Ador. Photo Credit: TV Ten
A Seoul court has granted Ador’s request for an injunction against NewJeans/NJZ, thereby preventing the group from engaging in professional activities (among them performances and advert deals) without the Hybe-owned agency.
South Korean outlets were first to report the development, and the story is just now beginning to gain traction stateside. Moreover, the news represents the latest in a line of Ador v. NewJeans twists.
Without retreading too much ground, NewJeans (which in February attempted to rebrand and perform as NJZ) says it unilaterally terminated its Hybe/Ador deal, becoming independent in the process, due to contractual violations.
Unsurprisingly, the K-pop giant is contesting the violation allegations as well as the purported termination – remaining adamant that the original agreement is in effect to boot.
On this front, Ador’s pushback includes but isn’t limited to a campaign for an anti-tampering law (the effort’s technically attributable to Korean music reps), a suit challenging the termination itself, and the initially mentioned injunction request.
While it probably doesn’t need saying, the showdown isn’t ending with the injunction ruling; NewJeans/NJZ has vowed to appeal, and a hearing in the core contract-termination lawsuit is scheduled for early April.
“A separate main lawsuit regarding the validity of the exclusive contract termination is currently underway,” NewJeans/NJZ wrote in English on a PR-dedicated social account, “with a court hearing scheduled for April 3.
“Unlike injunction proceedings, the main lawsuit allows us to freely utilize civil procedure tools to collect necessary evidence. We anticipate this will greatly reinforce our claims,” the group (and specifically members’ parents, who run the page) continued.
Back to the injunction, the court determination, important from the perspective of the wider dispute, doesn’t look to be fueling near-term changes. Most immediately, NewJeans’ previously booked March 23rd ComplexCon Hong Kong performance is moving forward.
For obvious reasons, NewJeans cannot very well bail on the gig moments following the injunction ruling and at the 11th hour; the act took to social media to double down on its existing plans.
“This decision [to play ComplexCon] was made out of respect for our fans and all stakeholders involved,” NJZ’s PR account penned, “in order to prevent unnecessary disruption or harm to those who have been looking forward to the performance.”
Similarly, it’d be ill-advised (from a commercial viewpoint, in terms of fan perception, and more) for Ador to shut down the show. Thus, the agency in a statement said it will “provide full on-site support” for the concert, with the five professionals at hand performing “under the name of NewJeans, an artist under Ador.”
As things stand, ComplexCon’s website is still billing the group as NJZ; though the branding around the actual performance isn’t particularly important, it’ll be interesting to see which direction organizers go here.
Bigger picture, all eyes are now on the April 3rd hearing, which could have far-reaching implications when it comes to the K-pop world’s lengthy contracts and involved approach to talent development.
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