NewJeans under pressure as fanbase begins to fracture

NewJeans members speak to the press after attending a court hearing on the injunction filed by Ador at the Seoul Central District Court, March 7. Newsis

K-pop girl group NewJeans is facing growing uncertainty about its future as the group’s legal battle with agency Ador intensifies, and signs of division emerge within its once-solid fanbase.

A Seoul court recently granted an injunction filed by Ador against the members of NewJeans, preventing them from independently pursuing activities such as signing advertising contracts. The court sided with the agency, stating it had fulfilled most of its contractual obligations, including payment settlements.

The legal dispute dates back to November 2024, when the members of NewJeans accused Ador of breaching their exclusive contracts and announced plans to leave the agency. They cited a “breakdown of trust” due to Ador’s alleged failure to protect the artists and refusal to meet specific demands, including the reinstatement of former CEO Min Hee-jin.

Despite Ador expressing a willingness to resolve the matter and asserting that the contract remained valid, NewJeans continued its independent activities. They created new social media accounts to communicate directly with fans, avoided Ador’s management for scheduled events, and recently unveiled a new group name, NJZ, signaling their intention to rebrand and relaunch.

However, their solo push hit a roadblock on March 21, when the court approved Ador’s injunction. It barred not only advertising deals but also all forms of musical activity, including songwriting, composing, and performances. The court ruling forced NewJeans to pause its plans, and the group announced at a performance in Hong Kong, “Today may be our last stage for a while. We will respect the court’s decision and temporarily suspend activities.”

What followed added further controversy. In interviews with international media outlets, including Time and BBC Korea, the members expressed disappointment with the Korean legal system. They said that is the reality of South Korea and that it feels like they want to turn them into revolutionaries. These remarks drew criticism at home, with some accusing the group of unfairly portraying the Korean entertainment industry to foreign audiences.

The situation also shook the group’s fanbase. Known as Bunnies, the fandom had strongly supported NewJeans’ independence. However, the court ruling and controversial comments led to growing skepticism and disappointment among some fans. What was once an unshakable source of support has started to show signs of division.

Last month, some fans organized a truck protest outside HYBE headquarters, urging the members to return to the negotiating table with Ador. One of the banners read, “The adults are hiding behind them, and NewJeans is taking all the heat. We respect NewJeans, but we can’t let them walk a dangerous path.” Protesters also noted that the court dismissed all 11 of NewJeans’ reasons for contract termination.

While this does not reflect the sentiment of the entire fanbase, it suggests cracks in the once-unified support that had fueled the group’s defiant stance. Making matters worse, reports surfaced that a parent of one member had opposed the ongoing lawsuit, triggering a child custody-related dispute in court — further exposing internal tensions.

In response, the parents of all NewJeans members issued a joint statement denying any division. “There is absolutely no discord among us,” they said. “From the beginning, we agreed not to take legal action unless all five members consented. The members deeply trust each other, and the parents fully respect and support their decisions.”

Addressing the reported custody case, the parents said, “That is a private family matter. We hope it will not be maliciously linked to the legal dispute with Ador.”

Despite the statement, the developments are troubling for NewJeans. With the legal battle expected to stretch on, a weakening fanbase poses a serious challenge to the group’s future. Further fueling concerns is the unwanted spotlight on personal family matters, which threatens to erode public confidence in the group’s unity.

Still, NewJeans remains firm in its plan to break from Ador. Along with filing an objection against the court’s injunction, the group is pressing forward with its lawsuit to verify the invalidity of their exclusive contracts. Whether the group can overcome the mounting obstacles and achieve its goal of independence remains to be seen.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.