NewJeans is making headlines again, but this time it’s not just about their music. As the K-pop sensation continues to face an ongoing legal dispute with their agency, ADOR (a subsidiary of HYBE), the members have dropped a bombshell—changing their group name to “NJZ” and announcing new plans for upcoming performances and music.

With a high-profile legal battle about to begin in March, it seems things are heating up both in and out of the courtroom.

On February 7th, NewJeans unveiled their new name “NJZ” on social media, signaling a major shift. They also revealed that they would no longer be using the name "NewJeans" publicly after terminating their contract with ADOR. Along with the name change, their social media account was updated from “JINZforfree” to “NJZ_Official”.

Fans were also treated to an exciting announcement: the group will perform at “Complex Live” at the Hong Kong AsiaWorld-Expo next month, with their new debut track scheduled for release on March 23rd, the last day of ComplexCon.

“We will unveil NJZ’s new song and debut track then,” the members shared in a live broadcast. They also reassured fans that an agent would be joining them soon, so there’s no need to worry.

However, this all comes after a tumultuous dispute. Since NewJeans announced they were terminating their contract with ADOR in November, they have refrained from using the name “NewJeans” publicly.

Despite this, ADOR insists that the contract remains valid until 2029 and has filed a lawsuit to confirm this, which would block the group from engaging in new activities like signing advertising deals.

ADOR expressed disappointment over NewJeans’ independent move, stating, “We are very disappointed that the members made this unilateral decision before the legal judgment was made.”

The legal drama is far from over, as the Seoul Central District Court is set to hold a provisional injunction hearing on March 7th, with a trial for the contract validity lawsuit scheduled for April 3rd.

Adding more fuel to the fire, the parents of NewJeans members recently opened social media accounts, signaling a new level of involvement in the ongoing dispute.

The parents apologized for any frustration caused by the long-running battle but stressed the importance of setting the record straight through these new platforms.

As the public debate continues, fans and industry insiders are growing weary of the constant back-and-forth between ADOR and NewJeans.

With the involvement of parents and mounting legal battles, many are concerned about the situation becoming an even messier public fight, similar to the FIFTY-FIFTY dispute, which saw parental involvement negatively impact the members.

An industry insider commented, “With multiple legal battles ahead, there’s concern that both sides could get caught up in a public war, each trying to damage the other’s reputation. It’s unclear whether the parents’ new social media channels will help resolve things or make it worse.”

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A memorial for 8-year-old Kim Haneul, who tragically lost her life in the Daejeon elementary school murder case, has become a place for people to pay their respects.

What caught the eye of many, however, was a thoughtful flower arrangement sent by K-pop group IVE.

On February 11th, reports revealed that Kim Haneul's memorial has attracted a steady flow of visitors, including family, friends, and even those who didn't know her personally but wanted to mourn her loss.

Among the visitors was Haneul’s father, Mr. A, who shared some touching details about his daughter’s love for IVE, particularly for member Jang Wonyoung.

According to Mr. A, Haneul’s biggest dream was to meet Jang Wonyoung. “Whenever Jang Wonyoung appeared on TV, Haneul would stay up late just to watch her live,” he shared.

The father went on to say, “If anyone from IVE sees this, I would be so thankful if Jang Wonyoung could say a warm goodbye to our Haneul.”

A heartfelt photo card from IVE was placed in front of Haneul’s portrait at the memorial, showing the young girl's admiration for the K-pop group.

Later, fans and netizens shared messages like “Haneul, go and become a beautiful star,” hoping that IVE’s gesture would send warmth to Haneul.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Kim Haneul and her teacher, Mr. B, were found at an elementary school in Daejeon on the afternoon of February 10th.

Haneul was rushed to the hospital but tragically passed away. Police investigations revealed that Mr. B had made a shocking statement: "I was going to kill anyone and die together." It was later confirmed that Mr. B had no connection to Haneul.

The police have stated they will continue to investigate Mr. B’s motives and the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident once his health improves.

Source: [1]