NJZ Temporarily Pauses Activities at Complexcon Hong Kong Following Court Ruling Against Independent Operations

NJZ Announces Temporary Hiatus Following Court Ruling

The K-pop girl group NJZ, previously known as NewJeans, has declared a temporary hiatus during their recent performance at ComplexCon held in Hong Kong. This decision was made public on Sunday after a South Korean court ruled against the group’s ability to engage in independent activities.

Details of the Court Ruling

On March 21, the Seoul Central District Court issued an injunction that prohibits the five members—Hanni, Haerin, Minji, Danielle, and Hyein—from autonomously entering advertising contracts or pursuing additional music endeavors without the approval of their former agency, ADOR. This ruling confirmed ADOR’s status as the group’s official representative pending the outcome of an ongoing contract dispute.

The Group’s Response

In light of the court’s decision, NJZ stated, “Out of respect for the court’s decision, we’ve decided to pause all our activities for now. It wasn’t an easy decision, but we believe this is something we need to do at this moment.” The members acknowledged uncertainty regarding the duration of their hiatus but hinted that they might be stepping back from performances for the foreseeable future.

NJZ announces temporary hiatus pic.twitter.com/aIDHqMgoBu

— NJZ Loops 🧸🦦🐶🐱🐹 (@newjeans_loop) March 23, 2025

Background of the Dispute

This legal struggle began in November 2024 when NJZ announced they were terminating their exclusive contract with ADOR, citing allegations of mistreatment. Following this announcement, the group rebranded as NJZ in February 2025, looking to establish a new identity free from their past controversies.

ComplexCon Performance

Despite the looming legal issues, NJZ proceeded with their highly-anticipated performance at ComplexCon, where they debuted their new song “Pit Stop” to an enthusiastic audience of over 11, 000 fans. ADOR expressed regret over the group’s decision to continue with their performance under the new name, emphasizing their commitment to supporting the members in compliance with the current contract, although their staff was unable to meet with NJZ during the event.

Next Steps

The main trial regarding the contract dispute is set to commence on April 3, 2025. Meanwhile, NJZ plans to appeal the recent court ruling, seeking to establish their autonomy in the music industry.