Overview

• On May 30, the 52nd Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court upheld ADOR’s injunction blocking NewJeans from any independent entertainment or third-party work without agency approval.
• The court introduced an indirect enforcement mechanism requiring each member to pay 1 billion KRW (about $730,000) for every unauthorized activity.
• Judges cited NewJeans’ prior breaches—including performing at ComplexCon Hong Kong under the name NJZ and releasing new music—to justify the stiff penalties.
• The injunction remains effective until the court issues a first-instance verdict on the exclusive contract’s validity, with the next hearing in the main lawsuit set for June 5, 2025.
• NewJeans’ legal team said the injunction and enforcement order would be voided if the group prevails in its appeal.