Amidst a prolonged legal saga that has captivated South Korea, NewJeans, one of the K-pop world's biggest selling phenomena, has undergone a name change. In an exclusive interview with CNN prior to Friday's announcement, the quintet unveiled their new moniker: NJZ.
Pham Ngoc Han, affectionately known as Hanni within the band, spoke of the rebranding as a means to "transform this tumultuous chapter into something exhilarating." The group affirmed that they would make their debut under their new name at the ComplexCon Hong Kong festival in March, where they will also unveil a fresh track during the three-day event.
During a phone interview with CNN, Pham expressed, "We're putting in a lot of effort to resolve everything so that we can revert... to normalcy." The 20-year-old vocalist further emphasized that the band wishes for their legal dispute with record label Ador to not "dominate the narrative of our careers."
NewJeans soared to fame as one of South Korea's most triumphant pop acts after topping the charts with their debut single "Attention" in 2022. Less than a year later, they achieved international acclaim with their EP "Get Up," featuring the crossover smash "Super Shy," which topped the US Billboard 200.
Joining Pham in this journey are the group's other members — Haerin (Kang Haerin), Minji (Kim Minji), Hyein (Lee Hye-in), and Danielle (Danielle Marsh) — all under the age of 21 and going by their given names. Thursday's announcement marked another dramatic turn in their ongoing battle with Ador, a subsidiary of Hybe, the K-pop giant that manages artists like BTS.
In November, NewJeans held an emotional press conference, where the members announced their intention to terminate their contract with Ador. They accused the label of "manipulation," "mistreatment," "deliberate miscommunications," and workplace harassment.
Ador has refuted these allegations, as extensively covered by local media, and maintains that the band is still bound by their contract. The label has filed a lawsuit against the group and sought a court injunction to prevent NJZ from entering into advertising deals.
In a statement to CNN, Ador expressed, "We regret the escalation of this matter to court and believe that most of the claims put forth by NewJeans members thus far stem from misunderstandings."
"Our concern stems from the potential for announcing an unauthorized new group name or engaging in entertainment endeavors prior to a legal ruling...to constitute a grave violation of our exclusive agency contract," they further emphasized. Since then, the group has embarked on a new journey by posting content from their freshly minted Instagram account, jeanzforfree, where they recently reached out to their fans for suggestions on a novel moniker.
Marsh disclosed to CNN that the band has "utterly lost all trust in Ador at this juncture" and added, "We are confident in our victory against Hybe and Ador in this battle." A preliminary court hearing for the injunction is slated for March, with the main lawsuit set to unfold in April. In the interim, NJZ asserted that their focus remains steadfast on creating and performing fresh music, which Kang described as possessing a "distinctly unique and unparalleled sound."
"Nothing is holding us back anymore," Pham added with conviction. The group had earlier revealed that their name was a clever play on words ("new genes"), also paying homage to the timeless charm of a pair of jeans. Marsh noted that the band spent "considerable time" deliberating over fans' suggestions, which ranged from using initials, before settling on a name that, according to Pham, encapsulated the "essence" of their original identity.
"Even though we have to temporarily bid farewell to our former name, we're not entirely letting go of it," Pham shared. "Nor do we want to, because being NewJeans marked an incredibly special era for us, and it holds a dear place in our fans' hearts as well."
Friday's announcement could also mark a significant creative rebranding for the group, whose fashion credentials have garnered them a feature in American Vogue and an ambassadorial role at Seoul Fashion Week. Individually, the women serve as global ambassadors for some of the world's most prestigious luxury brands, spanning from Chanel to Louis Vuitton.
"It's undoubtedly going to be a stark departure from what people are accustomed to...and the image with which we debuted," elaborated Pham, explaining that the band also yearns to "experiment with diverse performance styles." "Initially, we were heavily focused on embodying the 'girl next door' archetype...Now, we're aiming for a look that's much sharper, much bolder," she continued. "Fashion-wise, we adore streetwear and non-gender-specific attire. I believe this concept and aspect will play a pivotal role in our (new) fashion identity as well."
This report was contributed to by CNN's Stephy Chung and Yoonjung Seo. This article has been updated to include a statement from Ador.
