All Five Members of NewJeans Decide to Return to Ador, Ending Nearly 2 Years of Legal Dispute

All five members of K-POP group NewJeans have decided to return to their agency, Ador, after concluding a legal dispute that lasted approximately two years. This development is viewed as a significant case regarding contract control practices within the K-POP industry. According to Ador, Hyein and Haerin made the decision to “respect the latest court ruling” following “careful consideration with their families and thorough discussions with Ador.” Subsequently, Hanni, Danielle, and Minji also announced they had decided to return to Ador after “careful deliberation.” However, one member was currently in Antarctica, resulting in delayed communication, and since Ador did not respond, an official statement was issued separately. The conflict between NewJeans and Ador intensified in 2024 following the group’s formation in July 2022. Triggered by controversy over the dismissal of Ador’s CEO, Min Hee-jin, NewJeans expressed their intention to leave Ador due to “unfair treatment” and “intentional isolation and manipulation.” The members demanded Min Hee-jin’s reinstatement, but their requests were denied. Last month, a South Korean court ruled that the contract between NewJeans and Ador, valid until 2029, remained in effect, prompting NewJeans to indicate their intention to appeal. Yet after the ruling, NewJeans’ legal representatives stated that trust with the management had been “completely destroyed” and vowed to continue fighting. Ador issued a statement saying, “We ask for our fans’ warm support and respectfully urge them not to engage in unfounded speculation about the members.” Meanwhile, the NewJeans members added, “We will continue to greet you with sincere music and performances moving forward.” HYBE is South Korea’s largest music label, owning top-charting groups such as BTS, while Ador is a subsidiary label of HYBE. This incident is likely to be recorded as an important precedent regarding the practice of labels exercising strict control over artists in the music industry.