As ADOR, the agency behind NewJeans, has filed a lawsuit seeking termination of Danielle’s exclusive contract along with penalties and damages, the group’s fandom Bunnies has launched a collective protest by sending a large volume of complaint petitions to South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
According to reporting on December 31, hundreds of protest faxes from NewJeans fans have been received by the office of Culture Minister Choi Hwi Young at the Government Complex Sejong. Since the morning, documents with identical content have reportedly continued to arrive in large numbers.
The petitions call for government intervention, accusing ADOR of retaliating against and causing harm to its artist. However, it is unlikely that the Ministry will take concrete action, as the dispute originates from a conflict between parties to an exclusive contract, an area where direct government involvement may be considered inappropriate.
A Ministry official commented, “We cannot tell them not to file a lawsuit, and even if we were to look into the matter, there appears to be little we can actually do.” The protest documents state that ADOR’s decision to file a damages claim amounting to hundreds of billions of won against a single member contradicts prior commitments made in court and appears to be an act of retaliation against an idol who raised concerns about rights violations.
The documents further argue that the lawsuit could function as a warning to the remaining members, suggesting that it may serve as an example and pressure tactic implying that the same could happen to them. Fans also expressed concern that the company may be forcing apologies that frame the situation as a misunderstanding on NewJeans’ part while insisting the agency bears no fault.
The petitions continue, stating that global K pop fans do not want to consume an industry that lacks basic human rights. They argue that the issue has gone beyond a private dispute and question whether it is appropriate for the Korean government and the Ministry to remain passive. Fans urged the authorities to listen to what they described as the genuine voices of fans and called for NewJeans to be freed from what they view as abusive practices.
For overseas fans who are unable to send faxes, Bunnies have encouraged participation through social media by tagging President Lee Jae Myung’s X account, formerly known as Twitter. International fans have posted messages directed at the President, including statements urging him to reconsider South Korea’s global image.
This is not the first time NewJeans’ fandom has taken coordinated action. Last month, fans also sent a large number of faxes to the Minister’s office following a court ruling that favored ADOR in a lawsuit confirming the validity of the group’s exclusive contracts. After ADOR failed to give a clear response regarding the return of members Minji, Hanni, and Danielle, fans demanded an investigation into whether coercion, pressure, or inducement was used to force the artists to relinquish their rights during the return process. Similar protest documents were also delivered to lawmakers on the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee.
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