Popular girl group NewJeans announced on Thursday a public contest to decide their new stage name. This decision comes amid a heated contract dispute with their K-pop label, ADOR. Using their newly created social media account, jeanzforfree, the group stated that the contest would last two days, allowing fans to submit name suggestions in the comments section.
NewJeans Launches Public Contest Amid Contract Dispute with ADOR
The announcement quickly gained traction, amassing over 16,000 comments within just 50 minutes. NewJeans emphasized that this name change would be temporary but reflected their firm decision to sever ties with ADOR and its parent company, HYBE.
In a separate social media statement, the group declared they would “never return” to the agency, citing ongoing harassment and betrayal. The members accused ADOR and HYBE of attempting to manipulate the situation by secretly meeting with some of their parents to create discord among the group.
NewJeans claimed their contracts with ADOR were terminated on November 29 last year, alleging the agency failed to meet its contractual obligations. However, ADOR has refuted these claims, asserting that the contracts remain valid. The agency has since filed a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the agreements and prevent the group from signing independent advertising deals.
The group has enlisted the services of Sejong, a top Seoul-based law firm, to represent them in the ongoing legal proceedings. Interestingly, Sejong is also the legal representative for Min Hee-jin, ADOR’s former CEO, who is engaged in her own legal battle with the agency and HYBE.
As the dispute escalates, NewJeans continues to garner immense fan support. By involving their fans in the naming contest, the group is signaling their determination to move forward independently, despite the legal challenges.
This unfolding legal battle has shone a spotlight on the ongoing struggles between K-pop idols and their management agencies. NewJeans’ bold step to publicly challenge their agency demonstrates a growing demand for transparency and fair treatment in the entertainment industry.
