After a Seoul court decision limited NewJeans’ ability to operate independently without ADOR, their TIME magazine interview has sparked widespread discussions in Korea both online and offline.
In the interview released on March 22, NewJeans voiced their frustration with the K-pop industry and their legal battle. The group expressed, “Maybe this is just the current reality in Korea. But that’s exactly why we believe change and growth are necessary. It almost feels like Korea wants to turn us into revolutionaries.”
While global fans lauded their openness, the response within Korea was more complex. Lawyer Go Sang-rok, a former member of Kim & Chang law firm and a previous supporter of NewJeans, criticized the group’s confrontational tone post the court ruling.
He remarked, “If you take such a confrontational tone right after the court’s decision, it will be difficult to avoid criticism such as, ‘Are they confronting the industry’s or the company’s injustices by lying, attacking colleagues, and demonizing the other party?’” Go also stated, “If you want to reform this system, you have to respect the basics.” Go further criticized NewJeans, saying, “At first, they sided with Min Hee-jin to attack the parent company, other labels, and their artists… If it comes to this, what will they (NewJeans) do next?” Online reactions varied, with some criticizing NewJeans, while others defended them. Here are a few comments: The legal dispute revolves around ADOR’s request to restrict the members’ ad deals and musical activities outside the agency. The Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of ADOR, barring the group from bypassing the label until a final contract decision is made. NewJeans, via their NJZ account, respected the court’s decision but intends to file an objection.
