Fans of K-pop group NJZ, formerly known as NewJeans, have submitted a petition to the court in support of terminating the members' exclusive contracts. The fan group “Team Bunnies” claims the petition has amassed 30,000 signatures, but questions have since emerged over whether the figure was inflated.
ADOR, the agency representing NewJeans, filed an injunction in January with the Seoul Central District Court against the group’s members. The motion seeks to reaffirm ADOR’s authority as the group’s managing agency and prevent the members from engaging in independent entertainment activities, including commercial shoots, without its approval until a ruling is made on the validity of their contracts. The main lawsuit, filed in December, is still awaiting a first-instance ruling.
While the petition carries no legal weight, it may be referenced in court proceedings. The large number of signatories opposing the enforcement of the contracts in what they describe as a “hostile environment” could influence the case. The petition argues that forcing the members to remain under such conditions would only prolong their distress and prevent fans from fully enjoying their music and activities. Given the scale of support, its impact cannot be easily dismissed.
Team Bunnies collected signatures from Feb. 24 to Mar. 5 and submitted the petition to the court on Mar. 13, one day before the scheduled conclusion of injunction hearings initiated by ADOR.
However, concerns have been raised over the credibility of the petition due to the methods used to gather signatures. Alongside the electronic signature platform “Glosign,” the group used a Google form that lacked real-name authentication or safeguards against duplicate submissions. Typically, petitions require signatories to provide personal details such as names, addresses, and contact information, along with supporting statements and identity verification. A significant portion of the signatures in this case likely did not meet those criteria.
Users were able to enter random characters for their names and submit implausible birthdates, such as Jan. 13, 2025, while still having their entries accepted. Additionally, the form allowed individuals to select foreign nationalities, input false names and email addresses, and submit multiple entries, as the form automatically reopened after each submission. This raised concerns that a single person could have submitted hundreds of signatures.
The controversy deepened when it was revealed that the petition was linked to a now-deactivated Google account, with a message stating it is “no longer accepting responses.”
Further doubts over the petition’s authenticity arose after reports surfaced of a promotional giveaway incentivizing participation. During the signing period, participants were offered prizes, including mobile gift vouchers for fried chicken, burger meals, and convenience store products, in exchange for posting proof of submission on social media platforms such as X, formerly Twitter, and major Korean entertainment community boards.
Legal experts stress that petitions should be based on factual evidence to aid the court in reaching an impartial judgment. Offering incentives to solicit signatures raises questions about the petition’s credibility.
Team Bunnies denied organizing the giveaway, stating, “The event was run by certain fan groups, not Team Bunnies itself. We did not lead or promote any events.” The group also claimed the giveaway had only around 130 participants, which they argued would not have significantly affected the overall number of signatures, estimated at 30,000.
A legal expert noted that cases involving unauthorized use of personal information for petition signatures could lead to forgery charges, even without a real-name authentication process. “Given that this petition failed to meet even basic requirements such as identity verification through ID submission, it remains uncertain whether the court will recognize its validity,” the expert said.
