Seoul, South Korea - Ador, the record label managing K-pop group NewJeans, has announced that two members, Hyein and Haerin, will remain with the agency. This development follows a legal dispute concerning the group's contractual obligations.
The five-member group NewJeans has been engaged in a legal battle with Ador since announcing their intention to depart the agency last year, citing allegations of mistreatment and manipulation. Ador has denied these claims. A South Korean court ruled last month that NewJeans' contract with Ador, which extends until 2029, remains valid. NewJeans had indicated plans to appeal this decision.
Ador, a subsidiary of Hybe, South Korea's largest music label, issued a statement on X. The statement indicated that Hyein and Haerin chose to "respect the court's latest ruling" after "thoughtful consideration with their respective families and thorough discussions with ADOR." The agency requested fan support and urged avoidance of "unfounded speculation regarding the members." The status of the remaining three members—Hanni, Danielle, and Minji—is currently unconfirmed. NewJeans' legal representative declined to comment when contacted.
The dispute emerged in 2024, stemming from the dismissal of Ador CEO Min Hee-jin, who also served as a mentor to NewJeans. Subsequently, NewJeans accused Ador of "mistreatment" and "deliberate miscommunications and manipulation," presenting demands that included Min's reinstatement. When these demands were not met, the five members declared their intent to leave Ador, leading the agency to initiate a lawsuit to prevent their departure.
The court rejected NewJeans' argument in a ruling delivered two weeks prior. Following the verdict, NewJeans' lawyer stated that the relationship between the group and their management had deteriorated. While NewJeans pledged an appeal, legal experts generally assessed the likelihood of a successful appeal as low, given the court's clear stance. The deadline for filing the appeal is the end of Wednesday, and it is not confirmed if an appeal has been filed.
Since its debut in July 2022, NewJeans, whose members range from 17 to 21 years old, achieved rapid success, securing top positions on Korean charts with their debut single "Attention" and gaining international recognition for their song "SuperShy" in 2023. However, the ongoing legal dispute has resulted in a hiatus from their activities. An attempt by NewJeans to rebrand as NJZ and release new music was halted by a court injunction initiated by Ador.
Fans have voiced concerns regarding the potential implications of these developments for the future configuration of NewJeans. Comments on social media platforms reflected worries about a potential disbandment if only a portion of the members continue their contracts.