The so-called “revolution” within NewJeans appears to have come to an end at least for some. Members Haerin and Hyein have officially returned to ADOR, revealing a split in the group’s stance and marking a new chapter in the ongoing legal dispute and internal discord.
On November 12, ADOR released a statement confirming, “Haerin and Hyein have expressed their intent to continue activities with ADOR. After careful deliberation with their families and thorough discussions with the agency, the two members have decided to respect the court’s ruling and uphold their exclusive contracts.”
ADOR further added, “We will do our best to support Haerin and Hyein’s smooth return to entertainment activities. We kindly ask fans to continue supporting the members and refrain from spreading speculation.”
[UPDATE] All 5 NewJeans Members Confirm Return to ADOR, Promise Sincere Music Ahead
The conflict began in November last year when NewJeans declared their intention to pursue independent activities, accusing ADOR of breaching their exclusive contracts. ADOR countered by filing a lawsuit to validate the contracts and requested an injunction to prohibit independent activities until a court decision was made.
The court sided with ADOR, granting all injunctions, including a ban on independent promotions and ad deals for the members. In May, the court imposed a fine of ₩1 billion (approx. $770,000 USD) per violation per member if they continued unauthorized activities.
Attempts at mediation in August and September failed, leading to a final ruling on October 30. Though the members initially expressed intentions to appeal citing a complete breakdown of trust with ADOR Haerin and Hyein’s unexpected return just 13 days later dramatically shifted the narrative.
Meanwhile, Minji, Hanni, and Danielle have yet to announce their stance, and the two-week appeal window from the verdict date is rapidly closing.
Earlier this year, the group drew criticism during an exclusive TIME interview where they spoke about contractual injustice, suggesting, “K-pop won’t change overnight. This might be the reality of Korea,” and stating, “It feels like Korea is trying to turn us into revolutionaries.” These comments were seen by many as tone-deaf and dismissive of the broader industry and cultural context.
As Haerin and Hyein seemingly step back from that revolutionary stance, all eyes are now on the remaining members. Will they also return to ADOR, or stand firm in what they once called a revolution? The future of NewJeans hangs in the balance.
Sources: nate