The BBC has focused global attention on the recent announcement that all five members of NewJeans will return to their agency, ADOR, describing it as a development that has “shocked the K-pop industry.”
On November 13 (KST), BBC reported that ADOR initially confirmed only the return of Hyein and Haerin, which led to widespread concern among fans that the group might disband. However, later the same day, members Hanni, Danielle, and Minji issued separate statements through their legal representatives announcing that they, too, had decided to return.
BBC noted that ADOR has not yet made an official confirmation regarding the full reunion of all five members, suggesting that both the company and the public remain cautious about the situation.
The outlet also referenced the November 2024 contract dispute, when NewJeans announced the termination of their exclusive contracts with ADOR during an emergency press conference. BBC stated that the conflict “sent shockwaves through the K-pop industry, where entertainment companies maintain strict control over their artists.”
The report further explained that the dispute originated from the dismissal of ADOR’s former CEO, Min Hee-jin, who was known for developing NewJeans’ signature creative concept and branding.
Last month, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of ADOR, declaring that the agency’s termination of Min Hee-jin’s contract did not constitute a violation of NewJeans’ exclusive agreements. The court confirmed that the contracts between ADOR and the members remained valid.
Although NewJeans initially expressed plans to appeal, the group changed its decision a day before the appeal deadline and declared their return to ADOR, effectively ending the year-long legal standoff.
BBC concluded that the controversy reflects the ongoing power struggle between creative freedom and corporate control in K-pop, noting that the case has become “a defining moment for how artists and agencies negotiate authority in South Korea’s global music industry.”
Sources: Daum