Latest news with #Haerin
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Seoul court clips NewJeans' wings with RM3m fine threat every time they go rogue on Ador
SEOUL, May 31 — K-pop girl group NewJeans has hit a legal snag in their battle with agency Ador, with a Seoul court ruling that the members can't pursue solo or third-party activities outside the agency until their contract dispute is resolved. According to Hankook Ilbo, the Seoul Central District Court yesterday sided partially with Ador, granting an injunction that halts all individual entertainment gigs by the members — unless cleared by the agency. If any of the five violate the order, they'll each be slapped with a hefty one billion won (around RM3.1 million) penalty per breach. This decision comes months after NewJeans notified Ador last November of their intent to terminate their exclusive contracts, citing internal conflicts. Since then, the group has rebranded as NJZ and performed independently, including a high-profile appearance at ComplexCon Hong Kong. Member Haerin also took to social media to thank fans for standing by them during the legal limbo. Yesterday's ruling means those solo efforts are now on ice — at least until the court decides whether the group's contracts with Ador remain valid. In the meantime, NewJeans will also have to shoulder legal costs related to the injunction. The tug-of-war between one of K-pop's hottest acts and their label is far from over. A second court hearing in the main contract case is set for June 5.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
NewJeans' Haerin pens down a heartfelt note with fans, saying that her statement 'might sound too raw...'
Haerin from NewJeans had recently celebrated her 19th birthday. The idol, who was busy even during her birthday, had still managed to make time to visit and interact with fans amid her schedule. The idol had left an emotional note for fans as well, and she later on penned down a letter on her social media platforms. Haerin shares emotional note with fans on birthday The idol managed to drop by at a birthday café that was organised by her fans while going to an important schedule. According to Koreaboo, the idol detailed how thankful she was for her fans who took the effort to handwrite notes for her. She also expressed her gratitude towards the fans' unending support during the legal case with their agency ADOR . Idol writes a letter to express emotions online The idol took to her social media platform later in the day to express her emotions and to once again thank fans for their love and support for her and the group as a whole. She shared that her letter "might sound too raw'. She continued in her letter, saying that 'this is the only way to express how shocked, touched, and thankful I am." Haerin also expressed how usually it is very difficult for her to express all of these "big, vague emotions". The youngest member of the group also expressed her thankfulness to fans regarding their support of the group. She quoted that the fans love and support during "these difficult times" have been the most helpful. Currently the group are knees deep in a legal battle against their agency ADOR with regards to their contract terms. A Seoul court also recently ruled in favour of the company and ordered the group to completely halt any and all promotional activities as a group. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Major broadcasting publication apologises as fans criticise suggestive wording; phrase "Haerin's escape" used without proper sources in the video
One of the most popular broadcasting and entertainment channels in South Korea issued a public apology to K-pop girl group NewJeans, or NJZ . The apology was issued for sharing a video with a provocative and misleading thumbnail attached to it on their channel on a popular streaming platform. After major backlash from fans, the broadcaster took the decision to issue a public statement to address the mishap. Broadcaster posts questionable content about NJZ The issue with the video arose after the post today regarding all of the issues and controversies related to ADOR and NewJeans. Fans react to the video and criticise the broadcasters after analysing the text that read 'Shaking NJZ, Haerin's Escape? Escaping is based on intelligence vs. an unfounded rumour, a close relationship,' as shared by Pinkvilla. This statement promoted baseless speculation based on assumptions about the group members, which the fans of the group called out and labelled as 'clickbait journalists'. The video shared misleading content, according to the fans, and shared implications surrounding a sudden group member's departure, citing no resources for the claim; fans criticised the broadcasters. Petition filed against the broadcasters Fans called out the broadcasters for spreading misinformation and even filed a petition against them on their Viewers' Rights Centre. The petition is titled 'We demand an end to malicious reporting and an official apology.' The petition highlighted that the company did not use verified sources and instead depended on baseless claims made by YouTubers. The petition shared that 'despite the official statement that the suspicion of problems between the families was false, we are disappointed that KBS included provocative phrases to induce views and spread false information. When we asked for an apology and correction of the thumbnail, KBS changed the thumbnail without any apology.' Broadcaster issues official apology Initially after the backlash, the company only edited the thumbnail and did not address the situation at large. However, once the criticism prevailed, they issued a statement explaining the video and apologising for their actions. The company officially shared a statement that said, 'The thumbnail text was criticised as inappropriate, and we have accepted it and made the video private. We apologise to the viewers who felt uncomfortable by this matter and will be more mindful in the future of not only the digital content but also the subtitles, titles, and other content overall.'
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
K-Pop Group NewJeans Vows to Continue Label Battle Despite Court Setback: ‘This Fight Is Necessary'
In their first interview since a South Korean court blocked their attempt to leave record label Ador, K-pop phenomenon NewJeans told the BBC they will continue to fight despite the setback. 'This fight is necessary. Although it will be extremely difficult and arduous, we will keep doing what we have done so far and speak up,' said Haerin, one of the group's five members. More from Variety BTS Japanese Fan Summoned by South Korean Police for Kissing Jin Without Consent K-Pop Girl Group Hearts2Hearts Launched by SM Entertainment With Debut Single K-Pop Girl Group AtHeart Full Lineup Unveiled as Titan Content Sets Partnership With Imperial Music The court ruling, which ordered NewJeans — made up of Haerin, Hanni, Minji, Danielle and Hyein — to cease all 'independent' activities while their case against Ador is ongoing, came as a 'shock' to the group, who learned of the decision while rehearsing for a performance in Hong Kong. 'Some people think that we're famous enough to do whatever we want and say whatever we please. But the truth is, it's not like that at all,' Hyein told the BBC. 'We held it in for a long time, and only now have we finally spoken up about what we think, what we feel and the unfairness we've experienced.' In a statement to the BBC, Ador maintained that the contract with NewJeans remains valid, suggesting that 'most of their claims have risen from misunderstandings.' The court sided with Ador, stating that NewJeans did not 'sufficiently prove' contract violations and that the label had fulfilled 'most of its duties.' Despite the court order, NewJeans performed their new single 'Pit Stop' under their rebranded name 'NJZ' at their Hong Kong concert, which culminated in a tearful announcement of their hiatus. Since their 2022 debut, NewJeans has achieved remarkable success, becoming the eighth biggest-selling act in the world within just a year. The group's dispute with Ador intensified after Min Hee-jin, their mentor and Ador's former CEO, engaged in a public feud with parent company HYBE, which culminated in Min's departure from the label. As the legal battle continues, with hearings set to begin next week, NewJeans remains steadfast in their unity. 'We've always said to each other, if one person doesn't want to do it, then we're not going to do it. It has to be all five of us that agrees to do it,' Hanni told the BBC. While the length of their hiatus remains uncertain, with Ador expressing hope to meet with the group soon, NewJeans insists they don't feel protected enough to return to the label. Despite the challenges ahead, the members remain determined, with Hanni affirming, 'We're gonna get through it.' Best of Variety The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The row that rocked K-pop: NewJeans tell BBC why they spoke out
"It took a huge amount of courage to speak out," NewJeans have told the BBC in their first interview since a court blocked their attempt to leave their record label, in a case that has rocked the K-pop industry. "This fight is necessary. Although it will be extremely difficult and arduous, we will keep doing what we have done so far and speak up," said Haerin, one of the members of the five-piece. "We thought it was important to tell the world about what we've been through. All the choices we've made so far have been the best choices we could have made." NewJeans looked invincible in the charts when they launched what was an unusual rebellion in the high-pressure, tightly-controlled world of K-pop. Hanni, Hyein, Haerin, Danielle and Minji stunned South Korea and fans everywhere with their decision in November to split from Ador, the label that launched them. They alleged mistreatment, workplace harassment and an attempt to "undermine their careers", which Ador denies. It sued to enforce their seven-year contract, which is set to expire in 2029, and sought an injunction against any commercial activities by the group. On Friday, a South Korean court granted it, ordering NewJeans to stop all "independent" activities, including song releases and advertising deals, while the case was still under way. NewJeans has since challenged the injunction in court. Friday's ruling was a "shock", the group told the BBC. "Some people think that we're famous enough to do whatever we want and say whatever we please. But the truth is, it's not like that at all," Hyein said. "We held it in for a long time, and only now have we finally spoken up about what we think, what we feel and the unfairness we've experienced." The K-pop industry has repeatedly come under fire for the pressure it puts on its stars not only to perform and succeed, but to appear perfect. But rarely do conflicts spill into the public, exposing stars' grievances and rifts with their labels. NewJeans' dramatic announcement last year followed a long and public spat with Ador and its parent company, Hybe - South Korea's biggest music label, whose client list includes K-pop royalty such as BTS and Seventeen. Ador told the BBC in a statement that the contract with NewJeans still stands, adding that "most of their claims have risen from misunderstandings". The court said that NewJeans did not "sufficiently prove" that Ador had violated the contract, adding that the label had upheld "most of its duties, including payment". The girls were rehearsing for a performance in Hong Kong, when news of the ruling dropped. They found out when Minji got a worried message from her mother: "She asked me, 'are you okay?' And I was like 'what happened?'" "I was stunned," Minji says. So were the others when she told them. "At first I thought I didn't hear her properly," Danielle says. "We were all kind of in shock." This was their second of two interviews with the BBC in as many weeks. In the first interview, which happened before the ruling, the group had been excited to release their new single, Pit Stop - their first since they announced their break from Ador and renamed themselves NJZ. They spoke about how they coped with a difficult period, including finding comfort in cooking. "I'm not really good at it but it's kind of healing," Minji had said, before promising to cook an "amazing dinner" for the group. In the second interview, which was 24 hours after the ruling, they seemed disheartened and unsettled, less sure of what was to come. "If we knew we were gonna go through this, maybe we would have chosen…" Hanni trailed off as she teared up. Seconds later, she continued: "Even if we do everything we can and it doesn't work out the way we hope it does, then we'll just have to leave it to time. I'm sure time would figure it out for us." The following night, they took to the stage in Hong Kong and, despite the court order, performed Pit Stop under their new name. But the evening, which they had pitched to fans as a fresh start, ended in tears as they told the crowd they were going on a hiatus. "It wasn't any easy decision to make," Hyein said on stage, as each of them took turns to address their fans. "But at the moment for us, it's about protecting ourselves, so that we can come back stronger." Just three years into their debut, the future of the young stars - they are aged between 16 and 20 - is now in question. But they tell the BBC that this is not the end of the road for them as they "find more ways" forward. With the legal battle expected to last for months, if not years, Minji says that gives them time to plan what they want to do next. Ever since they debuted in July 2022, NewJeans have delivered remarkable success with each new release - OMG, Ditto, Super Shy, Attention. A year on, they were the eighth biggest-selling act in the world. Critics called them a "game-changer" as their uniquely playful blend of 1990s R&B and sugar-coated pop melodies broke through a K-pop market dominated by electronic beats. And their breezy dance moves stood out among super-synchronised videos. They were still on the rise when Min Hee-jin - Ador's former boss and their long-time mentor, who launched them - began trading accusations publicly with Hybe. The music label had created Ador, granting Min a minority shareholding and further stock options, before she was removed from her role last August. Hybe was now accusing her of plotting Ador's takeover and Min, in an emotional press conference, accused them of undermining NewJeans by launching another girl group with a similar style. The fight got uglier and Min left the company, alleging she was forced out. That's when NewJeans broke their silence - they demanded Min's return in two weeks in a livestream. They were not able to contact her for a while, Danielle told the BBC in the first interview: "We didn't know what was happening and we didn't have a way to support her. That itself was a hard thing because she was always there for us and… in a way a person to look up to." Ador had said Min could not return as CEO, but could continue as an internal director and NewJeans' producer. When Min didn't return, NewJeans announced that they were leaving Ador and accused the label of not meeting other demands: an apology for alleged bullying and actions against what they claimed were controversial internal reports. Ador, which denies all these allegations, appears to blame Min for their dispute with NewJeans. "The core of this issue lies in the label's ex-management providing distorted explanations to their artists, leading to misunderstandings. They can be fully addressed and resolved upon the members' return to the label," Ador told the BBC in a statement. In the months since, Hanni, a Vietnamese-Australian, testified in tears to South Korean lawmakers in an inquiry into workplace harassment. "I came to the realisation that this wasn't just a feeling. I was honestly convinced that the company hated us," she told them, after describing several incidents where she said the group felt undermined and bullied. NewJeans' case was dismissed because the labour ministry said K-pop stars did not qualify as workers and were not entitled to the same rights. Then in December, NewJeans took another rare step by supporting fans who were calling for the impeachment of South Korea's disgraced president, Yoon Suk Yeol who had briefly imposed martial law - the group provided free food and drinks to fans who showed up at the huge protest rallies. With each round of publicity, there was also criticism, much of it involving their age. Some said they had "crossed the line", while others called them "stupid and reckless," and even "ungrateful" for picking a fight with Ador. Others questioned if they were making their own decisions. Being young doesn't mean they should be taken less seriously, the group says. "That's an easy way to devalue the fact that we are actually trying to do something," Hanni says. "The decisions we've made in the past year have been decided through a very, very large amount of discussion between us." As the dispute has dragged on, the critics have got louder, dubbing the girls as troublemakers rather than game-changers. Following the ruling, which their critics welcomed, NewJeans says they have been "very aware of the intense scrutiny and judgment" ever since they held that press conference last year. "There hasn't been a single moment when we've expressed our opinions without worry or tension," Minji says. "We've thought more than anyone else about how much responsibility each of our actions carries, and we're currently bearing that responsibility ourselves." It's not clear how long their hiatus will last. Ador says it hopes to meet with the group soon to discuss the future, but NewJeans insists it don't feel protected enough to go back. Their lawsuit with Ador will return to the headlines next week when the hearings begin - and so will all five of them. The one thing that seems constant is their determination to get through this together. Two weeks ago, Hanni had said: "We've always said to each other, if one person doesn't want to do it, then we're not going to do it. It has to be all all five of us that agrees to do it. That's how we've gotten here and that's how we are going to get to the end." On Saturday, she repeated: "We're gonna get through it." 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