The members of NJZ, formerly known as NewJeans, are facing public scrutiny for their continued loyalty to their former CEO, Min Hee Jin, just days after a court ruling exposed false claims and forced the group to honor their contracts with label ADOR. The Seoul Central District Court not only rejected the group’s claims of mistreatment but also revealed that Min Hee Jin was the source of a narrative that escalated a dispute with another girl group, ILLIT. Despite these findings, the members of NJZ and their parents remain firmly aligned with Min Hee Jin, a decision that has sparked intense debate and criticism online.
Court Rejects NJZ’s Claims and Reveals False Narrative
On October 30, 2025, the Seoul Central District Court delivered a significant verdict in the legal battle between NJZ and their management company, ADOR. The court ruled that the exclusive contracts signed between the parties in 2022 are valid and must be honored, effectively blocking the group’s attempt to promote independently. The court found it difficult to accept that the members had been mistreated by their company.
A major point of controversy in the case involved an incident with the girl group ILLIT. NJZ’s Hanni had previously claimed that an ILLIT manager instructed members to “ignore and walk past” her during an encounter at HYBE’s building. However, the court’s investigation found this narrative was fabricated.
The court stated that while Hanni testified she heard something like “just pretend you don’t know them and walk past,” she could not recall the exact wording. The phrase “ignore her” was introduced by Min Hee Jin in a subsequent message. Furthermore, CCTV footage presented in court showed the ILLIT members bowing to Hanni and Danielle at a 90-degree angle, contradicting the claim of disrespectful behavior. The court concluded it was difficult to accept that Hanni experienced any demeaning or hostile behavior.
Online Backlash and Questions Over Loyalty
Following the court’s decision, a viral post on the Korean community site Pann, garnering over 80,000 views, questioned the rationale behind NJZ’s steadfast support for Min Hee Jin. The post argued that the group’s success is not due to exceptional individual talent but is almost entirely built on Min Hee Jin’s creative concepts and song choices.
The post stated, “Honestly, all the NewJeans members are pretty, but as individuals, I don’t think any of them have that much star quality or exceptional talent. Their star power isn’t particularly outstanding. NewJeans’ success comes from their aesthetic and good songs. They themselves know that well, which is probably why they can’t let go of Min Hee Jin.”
This perspective ignited a wave of reactions from netizens, who were divided on the issue. Many expressed confusion over the group’s loyalty, especially since even the members’ parents appear to side with Min Hee Jin.
One netizen commented, “Unless there’s a double contract or something, this makes no sense. Things have gotten this bad, and yet there’s not even one member like FIFTY FIFTY’s Keena?” Another speculated, “It’s money, obviously. Even if you say NewJeans themselves are completely brainwashed, how could all the parents act like one group too?”
Others pointed out the unusual dynamic where the CEO’s influence seems to overshadow the group itself. A netizen noted, “Honestly, Min Hee Jin’s name value is higher than NewJeans’. The reason they dominated all the online communities even before debut was because of Min Hee Jin.” This sentiment highlights a rare case in K-Pop where a company executive is perceived by some as more central to a group’s identity than the artists.
A Look Back at Past Controversies
This is not the first time Min Hee Jin has been at the center of controversy regarding her decision-making. Rumors have resurfaced that she removed two members from NewJeans just before the group’s debut after consulting a shaman. The rumors suggest NewJeans was originally set to debut as a seven-member group, but Youngseo and Harin were dropped at the last minute.
Harin, a Japanese member, recently shared her experience in an interview, revealing the sudden nature of her dismissal. She said, “But… one day I was suddenly notified of contract termination. Just me. It was so tough then. I reached the debut stage, then this happened. I was shocked and hurt.” She also stated she was cut off from contact and wasn’t allowed to say goodbye to the other members.
Min Hee Jin had previously faced backlash over leaked messages that suggested she sought guidance from a shaman for business and member selection decisions. While she denied the claims, calling the shaman “just an acquaintance,” Harin’s recent comments have reignited this controversy.
What Comes Next for NJZ
With the court’s ruling, the members of NJZ are required to return to ADOR and are unable to promote independently until their contracts expire in 2029. In response to the verdict, the group’s legal team has announced plans to file an appeal, stating that “the relationship of trust with ADOR has been completely destroyed.”
The group’s activities have been on hold since March, when the court accepted ADOR’s injunction request. They performed their new single under the name NJZ in Hong Kong but subsequently announced an indefinite hiatus. Member Hyein addressed the situation, telling fans, “It wasn’t an easy decision to make… But at the moment, for us, it’s about protecting ourselves so that we can come back stronger.”
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Source: Pann
