NewJeans is set to return to their agency ADOR. On July 12, HYBE’s label ADOR released an official statement announcing that Haerin and Hyein expressed their intention to continue their activities with the company. After thorough deliberation with their families and extensive discussions with ADOR, both members decided to respect the court’s ruling and honor their exclusive contract.
Last November, NewJeans abruptly moved to terminate their contract, alleging that ADOR had breached its obligations and damaged the trust between them. ADOR responded by filing a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract and sought a temporary injunction to block the members from carrying out independent activities until the main case concluded.
When the court approved ADOR’s injunction, NewJeans attempted appeals and objections, but none were accepted. In May, the court granted ADOR’s request for indirect enforcement, ordering each member to pay 1 billion KRW (750,000 USD) per violation if they engaged in unauthorized activities. On June 30, the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 41, led by Judge Jeong Hoe Il, ruled entirely in ADOR’s favor on the question of contract validity for all five members.
The court determined that the dismissal of former CEO Min Hee Jin from ADOR did not indicate a lack of management capability or planning for NewJeans and emphasized that the exclusive contract did not require Min to continue overseeing the label. The ruling also stated that Min’s actions could not be interpreted as attempts to protect NewJeans from contractual breaches and that the circumstances suggested her plans may have triggered the audit, which the court did not view as improper.
Additional claims raised by NewJeans as grounds for termination were rejected, including allegations of leaked trainee photos and videos, disparaging comments by HYBE PR staff about the group’s achievements, attempts by HYBE’s girl group ILY1 to diminish NewJeans’ uniqueness, remarks from an ILY1 manager instructing staff to ignore Hani, and claims that HYBE’s album promotion practices undervalued the group’s success.
The court rejected NewJeans’ argument that their trust with ADOR had deteriorated to a degree that justified ending the contract. It noted that while trust issues often arise after a termination notice, those post-notice circumstances require careful assessment and do not automatically prove that the exclusive contract has become untenable. The ruling concluded that the situation did not show a decisive collapse in trust.
As circumstances grew increasingly unfavorable for NewJeans, placing their entertainment careers at risk, two members took the initiative to express their intention to return to ADOR. Yet the process soon revealed deeper complications. After ADOR announced the return of Haerin and Hyein, Minji, Hani, and Danielle abruptly sent a message to select media outlets stating that they had decided to return to ADOR, that one member’s stay in Antarctica had delayed communication, and that they had not received a response from the agency.
They added that they hoped to continue delivering heartfelt music and performances. However, this statement appeared to be made without ADOR’s agreement. When pressed for confirmation, ADOR explained that it was still verifying the intentions of the three members, indicating that no prior discussion had taken place.
NewJeans and ADOR have been locked in contract disputes for nearly a year, and while fans may welcome the possibility of the group’s full return, the process remains as important as the outcome. A group that has repeatedly emphasized the value of trust with its agency has once again shown clear communication gaps, a misstep that may further shape public perception in an unfavorable direction.
