Hani of NewJeans Spotted in Australia; “Time Needed Before Comeback”

Hani, a member of NewJeans, became the focus of attention after being spotted at the Australian Open tennis tournament. On the 27th, a post appeared on the global social media platform X (formerly Twitter) claiming, “I met Hani at the Australian Open tennis tournament and got her signature.” The witness enhanced the credibility of their claim by sharing a photo as proof, showing a hat with Hani’s signature on it.

Hani appeared to be in very good health. While stating that “Hani looked absolutely fine,” the witness added that “it still seems like some time will pass before she returns.” This suggests that specific plans for NewJeans’ activities, such as the release of a full-length album, have not yet been finalized.

Fans expressed relief upon learning that Hani appeared healthy. Social media was filled with messages of support, including “Wish Hani stays healthy,” “Can’t wait to see her again,” and “Thank you for sharing the news.” Meanwhile, some raised concerns that since Hani is still abroad, NewJeans’ comeback schedule might not yet be concrete.

Interestingly, this is not the first time Hani has been spotted overseas. Last November, she was also seen in Ushuaia, the southernmost port city in Argentina. At that time, a witness reported that Hani had dyed her hair brown and seemed happy, adding that they received a signature from her as well. These consecutive overseas sightings indicate that the NewJeans members are engaging in personal activities or taking time off.

Currently, the situation of NewJeans’ members varies. After a court ruled in October last year that their exclusive contract with ADOR was valid, Hyein, Haerin, and Hani confirmed their return to ADOR. Minzy is continuing discussions with ADOR to reach mutual understanding, while Danielle has been notified of the termination of her exclusive contract and is effectively removed from the group.

ADOR claimed in court last October that “they have finished preparing for activities such as the release of a full-length album and are waiting.” In an official statement, they also said, “We are still working on preparing the defendants’ comeback.” They added, “We will make every effort to return to our fans through discussions with the artists.” Nevertheless, the actual timeline for NewJeans to resume activities remains uncertain.