NewJeans Reorganizes as a Four-Member Group Without Danielle; Legal Dispute with ADOR Resolved

The year-long legal battle between NewJeans and its agency, ADOR, is coming to an end following Danielle’s departure. On the 29th, ADOR issued an official statement announcing that it had terminated Danielle’s exclusive contract and confirmed Hyein’s return. According to ADOR, Hyein visited South Korea with her family and held lengthy discussions with the company. ADOR stated that Hyein decided to stay with the agency after respecting the court’s decision. Meanwhile, it is reported that Minzy is currently in ongoing negotiations with ADOR. Danielle’s exit was a result of the legal disputes that persisted over the past year. On November 28, 2024, the NewJeans members held an emergency press conference to express their intention to end their exclusive contract with ADOR. In response, ADOR filed a lawsuit in court to confirm the validity of the contract, and it won the first-instance judgment on October 30, with the contract deemed valid. In its official statement, ADOR explained that the members had developed many misunderstandings about the company due to prolonged exposure to distorted and biased information, and that the disputes stemmed from this. The agency also stated that it intended to hold legal accountability against one member of Danielle’s family and former CEO Minhee-jin. It is now highly likely that NewJeans will reorganize as a four-member group consisting of Haerin, Hyein, Hani, and Minzy. Following the official confirmation of Haerin and Hyein’s return on November 12, Hani’s return now confirms that multiple members are returning to ADOR. The remaining task is to progress the negotiations with Minzy.