K-pop girl group NJZ, formerly known as NewJeans, announced a temporary hiatus during their performance at ComplexCon in Hong Kong on Sunday.
The decision came just days after a South Korean court ruled in favor of their former agency, ADOR, effectively banning the group from conducting independent activities. The announcement was made at the AsiaWorld-Expo after NJZ debuted their new song "Pit Stop."
"Out of respect for the court's decision, we've decided to pause all our activities for now," the group said. "It wasn't an easy decision, but we believe this is something we need to do at this moment."
It is unclear how long their hiatus would be, but the members—Hanni, Haerin, Minji, Danielle, and Hyein—noted that they might not be performing for a while.
NJZ announces temporary hiatus pic.twitter.com/aIDHqMgoBu
— NJZ Loops 🧸🦦🐶🐱🐹 (@newjeans_loop) March 23, 2025
The Seoul Central District Court had granted an injunction on March 21, prohibiting the five members from independently signing advertising contracts or pursuing separate music activities without ADOR's approval. The ruling reaffirmed ADOR's status as the group's official agency until a final decision is made in the ongoing contract dispute.
NJZ's legal battle with ADOR began in November 2024 when the group announced the termination of their exclusive contract, citing allegations of mistreatment. The members subsequently rebranded themselves as NJZ in February 2025.
Despite the court's decision, NJZ proceeded with their scheduled ComplexCon performance, which attracted a sold-out crowd of over 11,000 fans.
ADOR, while expressing regret over the group's decision to perform under their new name, stated that they remain committed to supporting the members in accordance with the valid contract. The agency reportedly sent staff members to the concert, but they were unable to meet with the group.
The main trial regarding the contract dispute is set to begin on April 3, 2025. NJZ has indicated its intention to appeal the recent court ruling.
