It’s out and some of you may have predicted it. The world may feel like crumbling down for NewJeans. Everything they strongly believe in seem to be crushed to the ground one by one. And with the latest court decision for the injunction appeal, will NewJeans eventually have no choice but to disband?
Well, not really. There are so many possibilities waiting for NewJeans members. And while disbanding may be one of these possibilities, it is not the end of the road for the group. At least not yet. Join our discussion on what will happen to NewJeans after the court’s decision and what will their appeal make a difference.
Court Announces Decision to Refuse NewJeans Appeal
It takes a whole level of mentality to actually challenge the core system of South Korean entertainment industry. And while it may seem like a child’s tantrum for many people, NewJeans members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein are not giving up on their failed injunction appeal.
On April 16, the Seoul Central District Court officially announced the decision to dismiss NewJeans injunction appeal. They had decided to remain with the original decision in favor of ADOR and confirming that the injunction would remain in effect.
While acknowledging the repeated concerns and materials presented by the NewJeans members, the court stated that, upon reviewing the full case record, the injunction stood on fair and justified grounds.
“We’ve carefully considered the repeated arguments and supporting documents submitted by the NewJeans members. But after reviewing the full record, this court finds the injunction to be fair and justified.”
Seoul Court.
This latest update follows the Seoul Central District Court’s earlier ruling on March 21, which sided with ADOR by granting an injunction to block the NewJeans members from pursuing independent entertainment activities, including signing ad deals without agency approval. The court emphasized that ADOR retains legal management rights over the group for the time being.
Although the members filed an objection and sought to overturn the decision, the court reaffirmed its original stance—maintaining that NewJeans is not permitted to engage in solo promotional or commercial ventures outside of ADOR’s oversight.
NewJeans is NOT Giving Up: Filing New Appeal to Higher Court
But instead of giving up and submitting all to the injunction decision and ADOR’s demands, NewJeans immediately fought back with a new appeal to the higher court.
Law Firm Shin & Kim LLC, acting on behalf of NewJeans members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, responded to the court’s ruling with an official statement, confirming this decision,
“Hello, this is Shin & Kim LLC, representing Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein.
NewJeans legal representative.
Today, the court upheld the initial ruling regarding the provisional injunction. In response, we have promptly filed an appeal.
We will continue to participate sincerely in the legal process and will do our best to ensure that the facts are clearly established. Thank you.”
A Higher Injunction Appeal: What It Means and What It Brings for NewJeans
So, what does it mean now that NewJeans has once again challenged this injunction decision to a higher court?
Practically speaking, it means that the case is not over—and NewJeans is taking things one level higher in Korea’s legal system to the Seoul High Court (서울고등법원). Through their legal team, NewJeans have now officially requested a new judge or panel to re-examine the entire case and from a broader legal perspective.
The Seoul High Court is one of the intermediate appellate courts in South Korea. This means it reviews and re-evaluates decisions made by lower courts, like the Seoul Central District Court, not to re-try the case from scratch, but to decide whether the original ruling was legally sound, fair, and procedurally correct.
This new appeal doesn’t simply mean that NewJeans is questioning the previous injunction decision, but also asking whether that decision was fair, reasonable, and legally sound under deeper scrutiny.
Filing an appeal also allows the group’s legal team to bring in new context, reinforce existing evidence. They will also be able to potentially challenge how the previous court interpreted key facts, including their working relationship with ADOR, contractual terms, and agency control over their individual careers.
Simply speaking, this appeal is like saying, “We understand the first decision—but we believe there’s more to this story, and we’re not going to let it end here.”
And in an industry where idols are often expected to stay silent and obedient, even when they feel mistreated, this is a bold and almost unheard-of move. NewJeans is risking not just media attention, but professional backlash, public misunderstanding, and long-term uncertainty with this new injunction appeal.
Will NewJeans Have No Choice but to Disband?
Now, if the higher court’s decision for their injunction appeal remains the same, does it mean that NewJeans will have no choice but to disband?
It’s one of the more painful possibilities on the table—but it’s not the only one.
If the injunction continues to restrict them from signing individual contracts, launching solo activities, or pursuing promotions outside of ADOR’s jurisdiction, it will certainly trap the group in a frozen state. They will not be able to promote or conduct any activities unless they comply.
In such a scenario, it may look like NewJeans might disband as the only exit. However, it won’t come immediately. A formal disbandment would still require all five members to either legally terminate their contracts with ADOR or wait until the end of their current terms. And in the meantime, the members can continue to appeal, negotiate, and—most critically—communicate with their fans.
Finally, what’s more likely happen is a standstill. And that is why NewJeans previously announced that they would go on an indefinite hiatus. This drawn-out legal battle has forced the group to slow down and make comeback plans nearly impossible. It’s a situation that fans have already started calling “forced silence.” And while it’s not disbandment by name, it can feel just as heavy.
NewJeans Faces Uncertain Future but They Will Not Disband – for Now
No one knows how long this will last. Legal battles in Korea’s entertainment world are notoriously slow. And as each month passes, the silence from NewJeans becomes louder—echoing across fan spaces with frustration, sadness, and unwavering hope.
But if there’s one thing this situation has proven, it’s that NewJeans is not giving up easily. Not as a group. Not as individuals. They’ve already shown more resilience and agency than many expected—refusing to be pawns in someone else’s game.
So, will NewJeans disband? Not yet. Not for now. And maybe—not at all.
Because sometimes, survival in K-pop doesn’t come from sticking to the rules. It comes from rewriting them.
But what do you think? In your opinion, will NewJeans eventually win this long and bloody fight, or will they disband instead? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Join us on Kpoppost’s Instagram, Threads, Facebook, X, Telegram channel, WhatsApp Channel and Discord server for discussions. And follow Kpoppost’s Google News for more Korean entertainment news and updates. You can also join our exclusive membership. You might be able to join our upcoming exclusive community events and win exciting prizes!
