A man in his 20s has been indicted by the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office on charges of trespassing and theft related to incidents at the former residence of K-pop girl group NewJeans.​

Details of the Incident

The individual, referred to as Mr. A, is accused of unlawfully entering NewJeans’ accommodation in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on December 18 and again on December 21, 2024. During these unauthorized entries, he allegedly stole items including hangers and placards. Investigations revealed that the door to the residence was unlocked during his first entry, which he exploited to gain access. He later returned to the property to commit theft.

Context Surrounding the Incidents

These events occurred shortly after NewJeans announced the termination of their exclusive contract with their agency, ADOR, on November 29, 2024. The group vacated the property in early December following the announcement.

In a separate incident in August 2024, an online post threatened a knife attack on NewJeans, prompting their agency to enhance security measures for the group’s events in Tokyo. However, there is no confirmed link between Mr. A and this threat.

Legal Proceedings and Security Measures

Mr. A has been formally indicted and is awaiting trial. In response to these incidents, ADOR has emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards any actions that infringe upon their artists’ rights and has committed to pursuing legal action against such violations.