Original article
Translation by @juantokki
Hong Kong’s “Super March” is packed with major events, with the International Rugby Sevens making its debut at the Kai Tak Sports Park today. However, beyond sports, one of the most internationally eye-catching events was last weekend’s ComplexCon at the AsiaWorld-Expo. The spotlight was on Korean girl group NewJeans, now renamed NJZ, who headlined the event and performed a new song for the first time. However, shortly after their performance, the group announced they would suspend all activities in compliance with a South Korean court ruling, shocking fans worldwide and raising concerns that this debut performance could also be their last.
NJZ Hit with Injunction by Seoul Court
Since their debut in 2022, NewJeans skyrocketed to global fame, but in November 2023, the five members accused their agency, ADOR, of unfair treatment and announced they were terminating their contracts. ADOR retaliated with legal action, and in March 2024, the Seoul court issued a temporary injunction, banning NJZ from engaging in any commercial or entertainment activities under their new group name. Notably, this ruling was issued just 30 minutes before the opening of ComplexCon Hong Kong.
Despite the legal battle, NJZ still took the stage at ComplexCon last Sunday, delivering their performance as planned.
The Organizers Are Not Bound by the South Korean Court Ruling
According to sources, the organizers of ComplexCon had initially planned to invite NewJeans to their first-ever Hong Kong event last year, but the deal did not materialize. However, after NewJeans announced their split from ADOR, the organizers reopened discussions and successfully arranged their participation in this year’s event.
Following the issuance of the temporary injunction by the South Korean court, the organizers faced considerable pressure, with some attempting to challenge their decision to allow NJZ to perform. However, in reality, unless ADOR obtains a corresponding court order in Hong Kong, the organizers—being a non-South Korean operating entity—are not bound by the South Korean court’s ruling. The organizers also coordinated with NJZ to ensure that the performance proceeded as planned, reassuring the audience.
ComplexCon is a globally renowned cultural event that brings together music, fashion, and art, and NJZ’s performance was the biggest highlight of this year’s festival. Legal experts suggest that the organizers’ ability to stand firm against legal pressure is largely attributed to Hong Kong’s independent legal system. Under Hong Kong law, foreign court rulings must be reviewed by local courts before they can be enforced. This not only protects the rights of local businesses and individuals but also provides international event organizers with a clear legal framework, allowing them to make informed decisions in cross-border disputes. Such legal stability and predictability are crucial considerations when choosing a venue for global events.
The legal expert further emphasized that Hong Kong’s judicial independence and transparency serve as its “golden reputation,” providing stable legal protections for business activities while also fostering a relatively free environment for international artists to perform. This case, they believe, will further strengthen the confidence of large-scale event organizers in hosting major cultural events in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong government has been actively promoting the city as a hub for major events, with cultural and arts festivals receiving financial support from the Mega Events Fund. This initiative successfully brought ComplexCon to Hong Kong for the second consecutive year, alongside a series of other high-profile events.
The continued hosting of such major events indicates that international organizers remain confident in Hong Kong, undeterred by negative portrayals from Western media.
A government insider stated that ComplexCon’s successful execution, despite NJZ’s contract dispute, underscores Hong Kong’s unique judicial advantages and validates its strategy of investing in major events to enhance economic vitality and global influence. The insider further noted that the NJZ case has reassured cultural and sports event organizers, boosting their confidence in bringing high-profile events to Hong Kong’s international stage.
You assume that what's considered "moral" or ethical hasn't changed multiple times throughout history and that it isn't subjective. Sorry to sound pedantic, but once again, it's right in the definition of the word:
a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do.
And nowhere does it say that "morals" imply any degree of immutability. There are countless examples I could make. Just as a personal example, I never particularly paid mind to the suffering of animals until I adopted a pet. I never believed getting involved in political discourse was a duty until I realized how increasingly distorted it's becoming. Many people say similar things about having children, how the experience just changes the way you see the world, your perception of what is tolerable and what is not, and ultimately your perception of "right" and "wrong": your morals.
If we as humans didn't believe that we can actually influence other people's conceptions of what's right or wrong, there would be no point to education, history, politics, philosophy, law, religion, art, literature... culture as a whole. We wouldn't have communication or civilization.
My honest opinion is that what you're truly asking here isn't whether it's okay/possible for morals to be flexible, you're asking whether it's okay to stray from what you've always perceived to be the general consensus of what is "moral" and what isn't. And my answer is still yes.