NewJeans members Minji, Hani, and Danielle have stated their intention to return to their agency ADOR while the contract dispute remains unresolved, though ADOR is responding cautiously.
On the afternoon of the 12th, representatives for the three members released a statement saying they had decided to return to ADOR after careful consideration. Earlier the same day, ADOR officially announced the return of Haerin and Hyein and indicated that Minji, Hani, and Danielle would also rejoin, but the method of announcement differed.
For Haerin and Hyein, ADOR issued an official statement noting that the two members intended to continue activities with the agency and, after thorough discussions with their families and ADOR, had chosen to respect the court ruling and follow their contracts, signaling close communication with the company.
In contrast, Minji, Hani, and Danielle announced their return independently. They explained that one member was currently in Antarctica, which delayed communication, and said they had not received a response from ADOR, prompting them to release their position separately.
Industry insiders believe the three members may not have engaged in direct discussions with ADOR about their return and interpret ADOR’s comment about verifying their intentions accordingly. As of the morning of the 13th, ADOR has not released an official statement regarding the three members, leaving the agency’s next steps uncertain.
The dispute between NewJeans and ADOR began in November 2024 following the resignation of former CEO Min Hee Jin. On November 28, 2024, the group held an emergency press conference announcing plans to terminate their contracts and begin independent activities at midnight on November 29. ADOR responded by filing a lawsuit in December to confirm the validity of the contracts.
One month later, while awaiting the first trial ruling, the agency requested a temporary injunction to maintain its status as NewJeans’ management company and prevent the members from signing independent agreements without ADOR’s approval. The court granted the injunction, and on October 30 the court ruled fully in ADOR’s favor in the first trial, affirming the validity of the exclusive contracts.
