NewJeans‘s Hanni was absent from a crucial agency meeting with ADOR representatives due to overseas travel, amid the girl group’s ongoing contract dispute resolution. The meeting, held on November 11, involved other NewJeans members—Minji, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein—and their guardians, who discussed terms and conditions for returning to their original agency.
According to Star News, Hanni could not attend the meeting as she was abroad at the time, confirming that she was the member previously referred to as being “in Antarctica” in earlier statements. ADOR plans to hold a separate, individual meeting with Hanni upon her return to Korea.
Earlier, ADOR officially announced that Haerin and Hyein had expressed their intention to return on November 12, following discussions with the agency’s representatives. The agency noted that the two members had carefully considered the decision with their families and would respect the court ruling while adhering to their contracts.
Shortly afterward, Minji, Hanni, and Danielle also communicated their intention to return via their legal representatives at Hanil Law. They stated that one member was in Antarctica, which delayed the announcement, and confirmed their decision to return to ADOR after careful deliberation. While the announcement was made individually before formal agency discussions concluded, ADOR confirmed it is verifying the intentions of the members and arranging individual meetings.
The return of all NewJeans members has drawn significant attention within the K-pop industry, particularly regarding the identity of the “Antarctica member.” Speculations circulated online, with fans suggesting that Danielle participated in an Antarctic marathon or that Hanni was spotted in Ushuaia, Argentina.
As NewJeans prepares to resume activities under ADOR, Hanni’s individual meeting and return are anticipated to be completed smoothly, marking a significant step toward stabilizing the group’s management and future promotions.
Sources: Daum