NewJeans made a powerful statement during a live broadcast in Japan as they appeared wearing black ribbons to mourn the victims of the Jeju Air disaster.

On December 30, the group attended the 66th Brilliant! Japan Record Awards (referred to as the "Record Awards"), a prestigious event that was broadcast live. NewJeans took home the Excellence Award for their hit song "Supernatural", making it their second consecutive win after receiving the same honor last year for "Ditto".

South Korea is currently in a national mourning period until January 4, following the tragic Jeju Air crash.

In a heartfelt statement, their agency ADOR shared, "We extend our deepest condolences to those who lost their lives in this tragic accident and heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families enduring profound grief."

They further explained their decision to continue with scheduled events, saying, "After comprehensive consideration of the potential impact on the event organizers, we have decided to proceed with the scheduled activities. However, it is with a heavy heart that we engage in these events at this time. We ask for the understanding of our fans."

To show respect and honor the lives lost, NewJeans wore black flower-shaped ribbons on their outfits during the event. The group also shared a touching post on their "jeanzforfree" account with the caption, "With condolences in our hearts."

Photos from the event captured the members performing on stage, their black ribbons standing out as a solemn tribute amid the dazzling lights.

After their emotional appearance at the Record Awards, NewJeans is set to perform at "Countdown Japan 24/25", one of Japan's biggest year-end indoor festivals, on December 31.

Meanwhile, the Jeju Air flight 7C2216, which departed from Bangkok, Thailand, and was bound for Muan Airport, crashed on December 29. The plane attempted to land at Muan Airport without its landing gear deployed, leading to a catastrophic collision with airport structures and a fire.

This tragedy claimed 179 lives out of the 181 people onboard, including passengers, pilots, and crew members. In response, the South Korean government has declared a seven-day national mourning period.

NewJeans’ heartfelt gesture serves as a reminder of the grief shared by the nation, even as they continue to shine on the global stage.

Source: [1]

NewJeans' Minji touched fans' hearts with a handwritten letter on her birthday — even while the group is currently unable to promote due to legal issues.

On May 7, Minji celebrated her birthday by sharing a heartfelt message on the group’s personal SNS account, which the members opened themselves to stay connected with fans.

Minji began her letter with honesty, writing, “I think I’m living a busier life than I expected. When I finally looked up, it was already May, and it was my birthday.”

She admitted that she had a lot she wanted to say, but her thoughts felt “messy.” Still, her message to fans was clear, “I just hope that I, our members, and Bunnies can all be happy. Happiness is the biggest goal in my life.”

Minji then opened up about her personal journey and struggles, saying, “I sometimes think that running toward my happiness by doing what I love might look foolish to others. But isn’t giving up your happiness now for the sake of a future that might not even come… too harsh on yourself?”

Despite everything, she ended on a hopeful note, “I really miss the times when we shared our feelings through the good music we made together. But I always look forward to what’s ahead."

She added, "We didn’t stop here, and we’re not going to stop! It might look like we’re standing still, but I believe we’re growing deeper.”

Her message comes during a difficult time for NewJeans. The group announced last year that they were cutting ties with ADOR, their original agency, after trust was broken. They later began working independently under the new name ‘NJZ’.

However, ADOR responded with legal action — claiming the exclusive contract with NewJeans was still valid and asking the court to stop the group from promoting or signing deals.

The court sided with ADOR and granted an injunction, forcing NewJeans to pause their activities. Their appeal was rejected, and they’ve now filed a second appeal.

Through it all, Minji’s message proves one thing — even when forced to stop, NewJeans' hearts are still moving forward.

Source: [1]