South Korean court bars NewJeans from independent activities amid Ador dispute

A South Korean court has ruled that K-pop girl group NewJeans is temporarily barred from conducting independent activities, including signing advertising deals, following a legal dispute with their agency Ador. After ending their contract with Ador, citing mistreatment, NewJeans attempted to operate under a new name, NJZ, which prompted Ador to file an injunction in January. The court found that NewJeans failed to prove a breakdown of mutual trust necessary for terminating their contract, upholding Ador's claims of a breach. This ruling complicates the group's plans for a re-debut and the release of new music, with potential financial penalties looming. Tensions escalated after allegations of workplace harassment and claims of discrimination against NewJeans by Ador and its parent company, Hybe. Despite the setback, the members remain committed to asserting their independence and maintaining their identity as NewJeans.