The parents of NJZ (formerly NewJeans) members have announced they are taking legal action against TenAsia, a news and media publishing company, over a recent article suggesting the group would soon be signing with a management agency.
On Friday, TenAsia published an article claiming that NJZ is planning on signing with Beasts and Natives Alike (BANA) following their recent rebranding. The article, which cited unnamed "industry sources," claimed BANA has already been handling the group's "overseas media interview requests," adding that it is "effectively acting as their agency."
In response to the article, NJZ's PR team—managed by the members' parents—released a statement on Instagram categorically denying the claims, calling the report "completely false and baseless." Additionally, they emphasized that NJZ has neither entered into any agreement with BANA nor engaged in any discussions regarding such matters.
"The article claims to be based on testimony from 'multiple industry insiders,' but this is nothing more than a fabricated rumor. The fact that such an article was published without verifying the details with the involved parties, including BANA, suggests an intent to stir controversy," the statement reads.
"We will be taking legal action against TenAsia for repeatedly spreading unverified falsehoods. This includes filing a complaint with the Press Arbitration Commission and pursuing strong criminal action," it continued.
Read more: Parents of NewJeans Open Social Media Account Amidst ADOR Dispute After 'Misleading' Media Headlines
The statement comes on the heels of NJZ's efforts to debunk rumors, including one about Hanni's visa status, claiming that the idol refused to sign documents that ADOR—the group's former agency—prepared for her visa extension.
The group's PR team later clarified that the member had received a new visa to stay in South Korea after a previous one expired and that the books did everything. Hanni holds dual citizenship in Australia and Vietnam and has been working in South Korea under an E-6 visa. They also accused ADOR of using Hanni's visa status to demand an extension agreement with their company, which is listed as the idol's agency.
NJZ has been embroiled in a contentious dispute with its former agency, ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE Corporation. The conflict came to a head on November 28, 2024, when the five members of NewJeans held an emergency press conference to announce their departure from ADOR, citing the agency's inability to protect them.
This decision followed months of escalating tensions between the group and HYBE, which intensified after the removal of Min Hee-jin, ADOR's former CEO and NewJeans' creative director. Despite NewJeans' declaration of contract termination, ADOR maintains that the group's exclusive contracts remain valid until 2029. The situation has led to legal action, with ADOR filing a preliminary injunction against NewJeans on January 14, 2025, to prevent the members from pursuing independent activities.
