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Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Court orders K-pop girl group NewJeans to pay agency Ador $933,000 for each unauthorised activity
K-pop girl band NewJeans began independent activities after ending their contracts with the K-pop agency in November 2024, citing a breach of exclusivity. PHOTO: REUTERS SEOUL – South Korea's Seoul Central District Court has ruled that each member of NewJeans, the K-pop girl group under Hybe subsidiary Ador, must pay one billion won (S$933,000) to the agency for every entertainment activity carried out without its prior consent. The quintet – made up of members Minji, Danielle, Haerin, Hanni and Hyein – began independent activities after ending their contracts with the K-pop agency in November 2024, citing a breach of exclusivity. In January, Ador filed an injunction to block the group's solo activities and assert its role as NewJeans' management agency. According to a South Korean report, the Seoul court on May 29 accepted Ador's request for an indirect compulsory execution, a legal mechanism used to pressure a party to comply with a court order by imposing monetary penalties for non-compliance. 'Since NewJeans violated the obligations set by the injunction by performing under a new group name and even releasing new songs before and after the injunction ruling, it is necessary to impose indirect compulsory enforcement to ensure compliance with the order,' the court ruled. 'If the debtors violate these obligations from the date they receive the official copy of this decision, they must pay one billion won per violation to the creditor,' it added. The ruling does not apply retrospectively, sparing the five members from owing billions of won for unauthorised activities they have undertaken since unilaterally declaring their exclusive contracts to be terminated. 'Until a verdict on the first trial on the ongoing lawsuit regarding the validity of NewJeans' exclusive contracts is delivered, the members are prohibited from engaging in any entertainment-related activities without Ador's prior approval,' the court stated. In March, the same court sided with Ador in a preliminary injunction that barred NewJeans from signing individual endorsement or entertainment deals outside the agency's purview, further reinforcing the label's legal position in the ongoing conflict. NewJeans rebranded themselves as NJZ in February before the ruling. After the ruling in March, they performed at music festival ComplexCon in Hong Kong and debuted a new song, Pit Stop. They then announced onstage they would go on hiatus out of respect for the court decision. The second hearing in the ongoing main lawsuit to determine the validity of the contracts is scheduled for June 5. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
South China Morning Post
14-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
How melding Hong Kong's traditions and youthful energy can lift tourism
Even as geopolitical tensions rise, cities across Asia are competing for global travellers and Hong Kong must lean into what makes it truly irreplaceable. Beyond relying on the city's signature skyline and retail scene to draw visitors, we need a unique blending of grass-roots traditions and youthful creative energy to further bolster the tourism sector. This year's Labour Day 'golden week' could be an indication that Hong Kong is heading in the right direction. According to the Immigration Department, the city welcomed nearly 1.1 million visitors during the five-day break, a 22 per cent increase from the same period in 2024. Among these, close to 920,000 were from mainland China, up 21 per cent year on year. The reason behind this surge extends beyond shopping or sightseeing – it was a calendar brimming with culturally rich and authentically Hong Kong experiences. Among them, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival stood out as a crowd favourite. Dating back more than a century, the festival features towering bun structures, traditional parades and rituals, all preserved and driven by the local community. It is living cultural heritage, not just a showpiece for tourists. At the same time, Hong Kong has upped its game in the contemporary events scene. In March, the city hosted ComplexCon , a global celebration of music, fashion, street art and youth culture. The three-day event attracted 35,000 visitors, reinforcing Hong Kong's place as a dynamic, cosmopolitan destination which can hit the right notes with younger travellers. This synergy between the old and the new is something unique to Hong Kong. While cities such as Bangkok, Seoul and Tokyo have carved out identities around nightlife, K-pop or anime, Hong Kong's appeal is in its ability to seamlessly fuse East and West, tradition and modernity. 01:36 Visitors swamp Chinese tourist sites during 'golden week' Visitors swamp Chinese tourist sites during 'golden week' However, while the city saw encouraging visitor numbers during golden week, the economic impact was uneven. According to the Hong Kong Retail Management Association, many retailers reported challenges in sustaining momentum.
HKFP
24-04-2025
- Business
- HKFP
Thai dessert chain After You latest to exit Hong Kong amid ongoing retail slump
A Thai dessert chain has announced it will exit Hong Kong this weekend, three years after its foray into the local market, amid the city's ongoing retail slump. Thai chain After You said in a social media post on Tuesday evening that Sunday will be the last day of operations for its remaining Hong Kong branch at the Airside shopping mall in Kai Tak. 'Farewell! Thank you for your support since January 2022,' it said. 'Our last day in Hong Kong will be April 27, 2025. Though we're saying goodbye (for now!). We hope to see you again. Feel free to stay in touch. You're always welcome to visit us in Thailand anytime.' After You also said its Wan Chai shop on Lee Tung Avenue had already closed down, without disclosing when. The dessert chain opened its first Hong Kong store in Causeway Bay in 2022, before relocating to Wan Chai in September 2023. After You, known for its shaved ice and toast desserts, was a caterer for pop culture festival ComplexCon last month, according to the chain's and the organiser's social media posts. International brands exit Since reopening its borders and lifting pandemic curbs in early 2023, Hong Kong has been struggling to retain international brands. A spate of international food and beverage brands have exited the local market, including sandwich chain EggSlut. Last year, health product chain CR Care, Flash Coffee, Garrett Popcorn, lifestyle brand Paul & Joe, and DCH Food Mart shuttered in Hong Kong. Outback Steakhouse, an American chain, closed nine of its 19 branches, citing market conditions. After You's exit announcement comes after Hong Kong authorities said last month that February retail sales dropped by 13 per cent for the 12th straight month, compared with the same period last year. However, sales of food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco rose 0.7 per cent year on year.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Marc Ecko Returns to Complex as Chief Creative, Innovation Officer
Marc Ecko has gone back to his roots. The streetwear pioneer has returned to Complex, the magazine he founded in 2002, as chief creative and innovation officer. In this newly created role, Ecko will oversee the creative strategy for the media company and work to integrate new technologies such as AI into the business to drive audience engagement. More from WWD PONY Positions Itself for a Comeback With Major Plans for Apparel Japanese Artist Verdy Named Artistic Director of ComplexCon Hong Kong Vuitton on the Harbor, Iconix's Hoodrich Deal, Cameron Silver Hits the Beach At the same time, Ray Elias has joined Complex as chief marketing officer, where he will work to spearhead growth and communications for the media and commerce business. Elias has more than 25 years of experience and most recently served as chief marketing officer at HotelTonight, a hotel booking company that was ultimately acquired by Airbnb. He also served as chief marketing officer at StubHub for more than 10 years, working to grow the company from a start-up to a multibillion-dollar platform in live entertainment and e-commerce. In addition to Complex, Ecko founded the fashion brand, Ecko Unltd. in 1993 as a T-shirt company. Ultimately he grew the brand, which became famous for its rhinoceros logo, into a must-have for the hip-hop and urban communities. In 2023, he returned to Ecko Unltd. on its 30th anniversary to create a limited-edition collection based on his archival designs. He had sold his stake in the business to Iconix Brand Group in 2009. In recent years, he has focused on philanthropic efforts. Complex was acquired by Ntwrk in 2024 with strategic investment from Universal Music Group, Jimmy Iovine, Goldman Sachs and Main Street Advisors. It publishes a print magazine, operates an e-commerce platform and hosts the ComplexCon event in different cities globally. Best of WWD Dawn Staley's Outfits Through the Years: The Basketball Coach's Designer Looks Looking Back at Mugler's Best Celebrity Fashion Moments Through the Years: Beyoncé, Zendaya and More Happy Birthday, Sarah Jessica Parker: Her Style Through the Years From the '90s to Today
South China Morning Post
14-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong welcomes 12.2 million visitors in first quarter, up 9% year on year
Hong Kong welcomed 12.2 million visitors in the first quarter of the year, a 9 per cent increase over the same period in 2024, due largely to a spate of mega-events in March, the Tourism Board said on Monday. Advertisement Last month alone, the number of arrivals jumped 12 per cent year on year to 3.82 million amid the city's first 'Super March' campaign, which included events such as the pop culture showcase ComplexCon, the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament, art festivals Art Basel and Art Central, and the LIV Golf Hong Kong competition. Of the 12.2 million arrivals in the first quarter, 9.25 million or 75.8 per cent visited from mainland China, a 6 per cent year-on-year rise. The rest, coming from non-mainland short- and long-haul places of origin, also increased by 18 per cent. The board on Monday reported encouraging growth in visitor numbers from non-mainland markets, with short-haul ones such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan each growing significantly year on year by 30 per cent or more. In long-haul markets, double-digit year-on-year growth was recorded for both the United States and Canada, while Australia registered the highest increase at 32 per cent, the board added. Advertisement 'Following the 'Hong Kong Super March' promotion … the Hong Kong Tourism Board is launching a new 'Hong Kong Cultural Beat' thematic promotion, shining a spotlight on traditional festivals and other events around Hong Kong from now until June,' it said.
