Haerin and Hyein Return as Part of NewJeans Following Court Ruling

Haerin and Hyein, members of NewJeans, have made a surprise return to their agency ADOR one year after announcing the termination of their exclusive contracts in November of last year, marking a significant turning point in the “NewJeans controversy.” The two members decided to respect the court’s decision and abide by their exclusive contracts, with reports indicating they will go on to pursue activities under the name NewJeans. The five members of NewJeans had each signed individual exclusive contracts with ADOR, allowing them to decide on contract matters based on their own judgment. Haerin and Hyein’s return is seen as a result of this independent decision-making, influenced by ADOR’s successive victories in the first-instance lawsuits regarding the preservation of its agency status, a ban on signing advertising contracts, and confirmation of the validity of the exclusive contracts. ADOR had been preparing for a Comeback by submitting new song lists to the court in July last year, with the members’ return in mind. After winning the first-instance case, ADOR stated it had completed preparations for activities such as the release of a regular album and was waiting, with work likely underway with new producers at present. However, delays have been noted due to the exclusive contract dispute, similar to the situation faced by Kina of FIFTY FIFTY. The current situation remains complex. So far, Haerin, Hyein, Hanni, and Minzy have expressed interest in returning, while Danielle received notice of contract termination. ADOR has filed a lawsuit for damages against Danielle, and negotiations with Minzy are still ongoing. Decisions have not yet been made regarding whether the group will operate as a duo or recruit new members. NewJeans debuted in July 2022 and quickly rose to the top of the fourth-generation K-pop girl group scene with hit songs such as “Hype Boy,” “Attention,” “Ditto,” and “Super Shy.” Music critics believe that if ADOR hires music producers and creative directors suitable for NewJeans to create high-quality content, the group could regain its popularity, though they also point out that time lost due to the exclusive contract dispute has somewhat diminished the group’s freshness.