NewJeans "Disappointed by Court Ruling... Korea Wants to Make Us Revolutionaries"

Statement to U.S. Weekly Magazine Time
"K-pop Industry Won't Change Overnight"

Due to the court's injunction approval, the NewJeans (new stage name NJZ) members, whose independent activities have been blocked, expressed their feelings of "disappointment with the court's decision" through foreign media.

On the 22nd (local time), NewJeans told the American news magazine Time, "We are disappointed with the court's decision." The members added, "We did not expect the K-pop industry to change overnight," and said, "Compared to what we have experienced so far, this is just another stage of our journey." NewJeans also said, "This might be the reality in Korea," but added, "That is why we believe change and growth are necessary. It seems Korea wants to make us revolutionaries."

Girl group NewJeans (new stage name NJZ) is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after the hearing for the provisional injunction application regarding 'protection of agency status and prohibition of signing advertising contracts' held on the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News

Adore, which has maintained its status as NewJeans' agency until the first trial verdict of the main lawsuit due to the court's decision, told Time, "We regret that the issue has reached the court," and stated, "If the members return to the label (Adore), misunderstandings can be completely resolved."

The day before, the Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 50 (Chief Judge Kim Sang-hoon) approved Adore's injunction request for "preservation of agency status and prohibition of signing advertising contracts." Accordingly, the five NewJeans members will not be able to carry out independent music activities without consultation with Adore until the first trial result of the main lawsuit is announced.

Last November, NewJeans declared contract termination citing Adore's breach of obligations. After the injunction decision, NewJeans stated in a press release, "We respect the court's decision," but also said, "This decision did not sufficiently consider that the members' trust in Adore has completely collapsed." NewJeans also said, "We plan to dispute additional issues through the objection procedure regarding the injunction decision," and "We will supplement evidentiary materials as much as possible during that process." However, NewJeans will appear as scheduled at the 'ComplexCon' performance held in Hong Kong on the 23rd.