One of the top-selling K-pop groups, NewJeans, has officially changed its name to NJZ amid an ongoing legal dispute in South Korea. In an exclusive interview with the news media before the official announcement on Friday, the five-member group revealed their new name. Pham Ngoc Han, known as Hanni, explained that rebranding was a way to “make this difficult time more exciting.” The group confirmed they would debut their new name at the ComplexCon Hong Kong festival in March, where they will perform a new song.
Speaking to news media over the phone, Pham said, “We are working hard to set things right so we can return to normal.” The 20-year-old singer emphasised that the group does not want its legal battle with their record label, ADOR, to define their career.
NewJeans became one of South Korea’s most successful pop acts after topping the charts in 2022 with their debut single, “Attention.” Their EP Get Up, featuring the crossover hit “Super Shy,” achieved international success, reaching No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 in less than a year.
Apart from Pham, the group consists of four other members, all under the age of 21: Haerin (Kang Haerin), Minji (Kim Minji), Hyein (Lee Hyein), and Danielle (Danielle Marsh). The announcement on Thursday marked another twist in their ongoing conflict with ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE, the powerhouse behind BTS.
In November, NewJeans held an emotional press conference announcing they were terminating their contract with ADOR. The members accused the label of “manipulation,” “abuse,” “intentional miscommunication,” and workplace harassment.
ADOR has denied these allegations, stating that the group is still under contract. The label has filed a lawsuit against them and requested a court injunction to prevent NJZ from signing advertising deals.
In a statement to the news media, ADOR expressed regret over the legal dispute, stating, “We believe most of the claims made by NewJeans members are due to misunderstandings.” The company also warned that announcing a new group name and engaging in entertainment activities before a legal ruling could be a violation of their exclusive contract.
Since then, the group has started posting content on a new Instagram account, jeanzforfree, where they recently asked fans for suggestions for a new name.
Danielle Marsh told the media that the band has “completely lost trust in ADOR at this point” and expressed confidence in winning the legal battle against HYBE and ADOR. The initial court hearing for the injunction is set for March, with the lawsuit scheduled for April. Meanwhile, NJZ remains focused on creating and performing new music, which Kang described as having a “unique and distinctive sound.”
Pham added, “Nothing can stop us now.”
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Previously, NewJeans’ name played on the idea of “new genes” and the timeless appeal of a pair of jeans. Marsh explained that they spent a lot of time considering fan suggestions before settling on NJZ, which retains the “essence” of their original name.
“Even though we have to leave our old name behind for now, we’re not completely moving on from it,” Pham said. “NewJeans was a very special time for us, and we know our fans feel the same way.”
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The rebranding could also signal a shift in the group’s creative direction. Known for their influence in fashion, the members have worked with major luxury brands like Chanel and Louis Vuitton, appeared in Vogue photoshoots, and served as ambassadors at Seoul Fashion Week.
Pham hinted at a new image for the group, saying, “It’s going to be very different from the familiar look we started with.” She explained that NJZ wants to experiment with diverse performances.
“Before, we focused a lot on being the ‘girl next door.’ Now, we’re going for a much sharper, bolder look,” she said. “Fashion-wise, we love streetwear and gender-neutral styles, and that will play a big role in our (new) aesthetic.”
