« A lot of courage was needed to speak, » the Newjear have told the BBC in their first interview since a court blocked their attempt to leave their record label, in a case that has been promoted by the K-Pop industry.
« This struggle is needed. Although it will be extremely difficult and difficult, we will continue to do what we have done so far and talk, » said Haerin, one of the five pieces members.
« We thought it was important to explain to the world what we have happened. All the options we have done so far have been the best options we could have done. »
The Newjear were invincible to the graphics when they launched what was an unusual rebellion in the world of great pressure and closely controlled K-Pop. Hanni, Hyein, Haerin, Danielle, and Minji stunned South Korea, and fans everywhere with their decision in November to divide as Ador, the label that launched them.
They alleged themselves from the abuse, the harassment and the attempt to « undermine their careers », which denies. Sued to enforce his seven -year contract, which will expire by 2029, and was looking for a court order against any commercial activity of the group.
On Friday, a southern court -he will he granted itOrdering to Newjear to stop all « independent » activities, including publications of songs and advertising offers, while the case was still underway. Newjeans have since challenged the order in court.
Friday’s ruling was a « shock », the group said to the BBC.
« Some people think we are famous enough to do whatever we want and say what we want. But the truth is, » Hyein said. « We kept it for a long time and only now we have talked about what we think, what we feel and the injustice we have experienced. »
BBC/ Yujin ChoiThe k-pop industry has been repeatedly under fire due to its stars pressure not only to act and succeed, but it seems perfect. But conflicts are rarely poured into the public, exposing the grievances and breaks of stars with their labels.
Newjear’s dramatic announcement last year followed a long and audience with Ador and his parent company, Hybe – the largest South Korea music stamp, whose list of customers includes k -Pop as BTS and seventeen.
Ador told the BBC in a statement that the Newjear contract is still maintained, adding that « most of their claims have been covered with misunderstanding. » The court said that the Newjear did not show enough that Ador had violated the contract, adding that the label had confirmed « most of its duties, including payment. »
The girls were rehearsing for a performance in Hong Kong, when the news of the sentence fell. They found out when Minji received a message worried about his mother: « He asked me, » Are you fine? « And I was like » what happened? « »
« I was stunned, » says Minji. So they were the others when he told them. « At first I thought I didn’t feel it correctly, » says Danielle. « We were all in shock. »
This was the second of two interviews with the BBC in so many weeks. In the first interview, which happened before the sentence, the group was excited to release their new single, Pit Stop, the first since they announced their ador pause and were renamed NJZ.
They talked about how they dealt with a difficult period, including finding comfort in the kitchen. « I’m not very well, but it’s a bit of healing, » said Minji, before promising to cook an « amazing dinner » for the group.
BBC/ Yujin ChoiIn the second interview, which was 24 hours after the sentence, they seemed to be discouraged and restless, less secure than it had to come. « If we knew we would happen for this, we may have chosen … » Hanni had just left.
Second afterwards, he continued: « Even if we do everything we can and does not work in the way we hope you do, we just have to leave it in time. I’m sure time would have it. »
The following night, they went on stage to Hong Kong and, despite the court order, made a chest stop under their new name. But the watch hiat.
« It was not an easy decision to make, » Hyein said on stage, as each of them went to go to his fans. « But for the moment for us, it is to protect ourselves, so that we can become stronger. »
Just three years after their debut, the future of young stars, between the ages of 16 and 20, is now in question.
But they tell the BBC that this is not the end of the way for them, as they « find more ways. » With the legal battle that is expected to last for months, if not years, Minji says that they give them time to plan what they want to do later.
Pictures of gettySince debuting in July 2022, Newjear has been significantly successful with each new version: OMG, Ditto, Super Ty, attention. A year later, they were the eighth best -selling event in the world.
Critics called them « game changing » as their uniquely r&B playful combination of the 1990’s and Pop Melodies Covered with sugar passed through a K-Pop market dominated by Beats Electronic. And his dance movements Brisos stood out among super-unionized videos.
Were still increasing when movie – The former chief of Ador and his long time, who launched them, – they began to publicly negotiate accusations with Hybe. The musical label had created Ador, granting minority participation and more actions options, before being withdrawn last August.
Hybe now accused him of drawing up to the possession of Ador and Min, in an emotional press conference, accused them of undermining Newjeans by launching another group of girls in a similar style. The struggle became more ugly and min left the company, claiming that it was forced to leave.
It was then that the Newjear broke their silence: they demanded the return of min in two weeks in a streaming.
They couldn’t 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 -this was a difficult thing because he was always there for us and … so a person he looked at. »
Pictures of gettyAdor said that MIN could not return as CEO, but could continue as internal director and producer of Newjear. When Min did not return, Newjeans announced That they were adorned and accused the label of not meeting other demands: an apology for alleged bullying and actions against what they said were controversial internal reports.
Ador, who denies all these allegations, seems to blame Min of his dispute with Newjear. « The nucleus of this question lies in the ex-management of the label by providing distorted explanations to their artists, causing misunderstandings. They can be completely addressed and resolving the return of members to the label, » said Ador on the BBC in a statement.
In the following months, Hanni, a Vietnamese-Australian, testified in tears In South legislators -Coreans in a job research investigation. « I realized that this was not just a feeling. I was honestly convinced that the company hated us, » he told them, after describing several incidents where he said that the group was diminished and besieged.
Newjear’s case was rejected because the Labor Ministry said K-pop stars were not described as workers And they had no right to the same rights.
In December, the Newjear took another step in support of fans who were calling for the arrest of South Korea’s unfortunate president Yoon Yeol, who had briefly imposed martial law: the group provided free food and drinks for fans who appeared in the huge protest rallies.
With each advertising round, there was also criticism, much of its age. Some said they had « crossed the line », while others called them « stupid and reckless », and even « ungrateful » to choose a fight with ador. Others wondered if they made their own decisions.
Being young does not mean that they have to take less seriously, according to the group. « It’s a simple way to devalue the fact that we are really trying to do something, » says Hanni. « The decisions we have made last year have been decided through a very, very great discussion among us. »
Pictures of gettyAs the dispute has dragged, critics have become stronger, baptizing girls as problems instead of game change. Following the ruling, which was welcomed by his critics, Newjeans say they have been « aware of intense scrutiny and judgment » since they held this press conference last year.
« There was not a single moment when we have expressed our opinions without worry or tension, » says Minji. « We have thought more than anyone about the responsibility that each of our actions takes and we are currently having this responsibility. »
It is not clear how much your hiatus will last. Ador says he hopes to meet with the group soon to discuss the future, but Newjear insists that he does not feel protected enough to go back.
His demand with Ador will return to the headlines next week when the audiences begin, as well as five.
The only thing that seems constant is his determination to do it together.
Two weeks ago, Hanni had said: « We have always said, if a person does not want to do it, we will not. It must be all five that we accept to do it.
On Saturday he repeated: « We will have it. »
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