On November 12, all five members of NewJeans officially announced their intention to return to ADOR, marking the end of a year-long contract dispute.
Interestingly, Haerin and Hyein’s return was announced through an official ADOR statement, while members Minji, Hanni, and Danielle issued their own separate announcement through their legal representatives, creating two distinct communication channels one “ADOR official” and the other “law-firm official.”
Minji, Hanni, and Danielle stated, “After careful discussion, we have decided to return to ADOR. One member is currently in Antarctica, which caused a delay in communication, but we are united in our decision. We will continue to meet fans with sincere music and performances.”
Meanwhile, ADOR’s statement read, “Haerin and Hyein have expressed their intention to continue activities with ADOR. After careful deliberation with their families and sufficient discussions with the company, they decided to respect the court’s ruling and uphold their exclusive contracts. We will do our best to support them in resuming smooth entertainment activities.”
The reference to “family” in ADOR’s statement has attracted attention. During the previous legal battle over exclusive contracts, it was revealed that Hyein’s father had opposed her continued involvement with ADOR. In response, Hyein’s mother filed a petition with the Seoul Family Court requesting that her ex-husband’s parental rights be restricted for the purpose of the ongoing lawsuit.
The court ruled in favor of the mother, granting her sole authority to exercise parental rights in the matter, effectively stripping the father of custody rights. However, reports indicate that even after losing parental authority, Hyein’s father continued to encourage his daughter to pursue her career in a stable environment.
After a series of legal disputes and public controversies, NewJeans’ return marks a turning point. It comes exactly one year after the group announced plans to terminate their contract following the dismissal of Min Hee-jin, then-CEO of ADOR, citing a breakdown of trust.
ADOR later filed for injunctions to prevent the members from signing new contracts and sought a legal ruling confirming the validity of the existing exclusive agreements. The court sided with ADOR on both counts, and although NewJeans initially planned to appeal, they withdrew the appeal a day before the deadline signaling their decision to return to ADOR.
As NewJeans prepares for a new chapter under ADOR, public curiosity remains high regarding the internal family dynamics that influenced their decision, particularly the reported involvement of Hyein’s parents during the dispute.
Sources: Sports Chosun,Nate
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