NewJeans Opens Up About Legal Struggles and Emotional Toll

NewJeans (NJZ) has once again expressed their feelings regarding ongoing legal conflicts, stating they were "shocked" by a court's provisional decision. However, some criticize the situation where Min Hee-jin, the former ADOR CEO at the center of the conflict, remains silent while NewJeans takes the forefront.

In an interview with BBC News Korea on the 26th, NewJeans opened up about their reactions to the court's decision to prohibit their independent activities. Danielle recalled, "We expected a different outcome, but everyone was shocked when they saw the news," indicating the ruling was unexpected. Minji shared, "It caused us great mental distress, and the thought of going back to that company to face hardships again feels cruel," expressing a negative outlook on returning to ADOR.

Previously, in an interview with TIME, NewJeans also expressed disappointment with the court's decision, suggesting, "Perhaps this is the reality in Korea right now," and feeling as if "Korea wants to make us revolutionaries." Their comments have sparked criticism domestically for turning a legal dispute into an international public opinion battle, especially with negative portrayals of the K-pop industry and Korean society.

Amid growing controversy, NewJeans announced at a Hong Kong performance on the 23rd, "We've decided to temporarily halt all activities out of respect for the court's decision," shifting from their initial stance of disappointment to one of respect. However, their description of returning to ADOR as "cruel" in the BBC interview indicates ongoing tension.

ADOR expressed regret over NewJeans' unilateral announcement to suspend activities and their performance under a different name despite the court's decision, but left room for reconciliation, hoping to discuss the future with the artists soon.

The conflict, initially between HYBE and Min Hee-jin, has now seemingly shifted to between ADOR and NewJeans, with the young artists, mostly in their late teens and early twenties, at the forefront. Hanni countered assumptions about their ability to make decisions, stating, "People think, 'They're young, they can't decide for themselves,' but that doesn't mean we're any less serious or thoughtful about the situation."

Despite their efforts to communicate, concerns remain about NewJeans' continuous public messaging post-ruling, with some arguing that adhering to court decisions is a fundamental principle of a rule-of-law country. Critics also warn that criticizing the K-pop industry and Korean society in media interviews could undermine their own position, given their rise within the K-pop system.