NewJeans performs on the Tokyo Dome in Japan in Could 2025. (courtesy of ADOR)
Now that every one 5 members of the Okay-pop group NewJeans have introduced their return to their administration company ADOR, the world waits with bated breath for his or her long-overdue comeback.
Inside two hours of ADOR publicly saying Haerin and Hyein’s return to the company on Wednesday, Minji, Hanni and Danielle additionally revealed their intention to return, avoiding a worst-case state of affairs wherein the group broke up.
ADOR did initially trigger some confusion following Minji, Hanni and Danielle’s announcement by saying that it was “verifying” their intentions. However on Thursday, the company stated it was “coordinating particular person conferences with every member” and that it will do its finest to “make sure that talks go easily.”
A Seoul courtroom’s ruling on Oct. 30 that the group’s unique contracts with ADOR have been nonetheless legitimate meant that the members had till midnight on Thursday to enchantment the ruling, or they’d stay routinely beneath these contracts. Since they expressed their intention to return, it’s seemingly that the group will make an official comeback quickly.
The choice to return has successfully ended NewJeans’ hiatus. The group was unable to interact in any group actions beginning in November 2024, when members stated that their contracts with ADOR have been null and void, and the year-long authorized dispute stopped them from releasing any albums, capturing commercials or holding live shows. As all 5 members introduced their readiness to return to the label, many consider that the corporate has met the naked minimal requirement to restart any and all suspended initiatives.
Their return is believed to have been prompted by their defeat in courtroom and the uncertainty surrounding their future endeavors. The string of defeats — first the courtroom injunction that prohibited NewJeans from persevering with unbiased actions, then their courtroom case — solid doubt over whether or not they might overturn these rulings in increased courts.
It’s also thought that they judged that the prolonged hiatus that might be required in the event that they have been to pursue their authorized battle any longer would result in a decline within the group’s market worth and depart followers fed up.
If the battle had continued, the potential for added disputes, corresponding to claims for damages, would have been fairly excessive, main many to interpret the return as a realistic selection.
“It seems that, after wanting on the first-instance judgment, the NewJeans members assessed that it’d be a problem to overturn that ruling down the road in an enchantment. They in all probability additionally thought-about potential harm claims,” commented Jeong Seong-ho, an lawyer at Neulbut Regulation Agency.
“Barring unexpected variables, it’s now extremely possible the members will proceed actions with ADOR till the tip of their unique contract in July 2029,” he added.
NewJeans’ return can be important when it comes to the working efficiency for ADOR’s dad or mum firm, Hybe.
Hybe posted an working lack of 42.2 billion gained within the third quarter of 2025, shifting into the pink. For the corporate, recovering profitability is its subsequent problem. NewJeans’ return to common actions might positively impression the corporate’s monetary construction.
Hybe’s inventory costs have been robust on Thursday, rising over 6% throughout the buying and selling day. One securities agency launched a report stating that NewJeans’ return might contribute annual earnings of “20 to 30 billion gained beginning in 2027,” elevating Hybe’s goal inventory worth.
What precisely this comeback-era NewJeans will carry can be a key focal point. NewJeans was appraised for the excellent artistic construction that oversaw the group’s signature sound, efficiency, look and branding. As Min Hee-jin, the previous CEO of ADOR and the mastermind who oversaw the group’s manufacturing, is now not within the image, many marvel if the remaining ADOR producers can keep the identical stage of high quality as earlier than.
When Min was on the helm, ADOR was a Hybe subsidiary, however retained an unbiased manufacturing system. This independence enabled the label to face out from different Hybe subsidiaries, ultimately gaining sufficient momentum to launch its tremendous IP: NewJeans.
The actual-life merchandise of this return — albums, live shows, merch, et cetera — are prone to decide whether or not the ADOR of at present will put as a lot into producing NewJeans as once they first debuted. The label is reportedly exploring bringing in a brand new producer.
Many say that if NewJeans needs to get again on observe, it would want to consider altering how members talk with their label, in addition to its relationship with its fandom. Others, nonetheless, say that the members themselves must show that they really need to get again to work.
“If Hybe actively helps the group and collaborates with different subsidiary labels to breathe new life into the NewJeans’ IP, it might permit them to make one other massive break as world-class stars,” stated Lim Hee-yun, a pop music critic.
“But it surely stays to be seen if or how will probably be capable of take the IP to new locations in ways in which set it aside from the Min-era ADOR,” Lim stated, suggesting that the method “gained’t be straightforward.”
Min, for her half, instructed the Hankyoreh over the telephone on Thursday that the choice by members to return to their label was “little doubt made after a lot consideration and deliberation.”
“I believe that NewJeans wants to remain collectively, the 5 of them. Going ahead, I want the members power and hope that NewJeans will develop into one thing even higher,” Min stated. “Most of all, I want all 5 members happiness.”
Min just lately started her personal enterprise, launching her new company referred to as “OOAK,” brief for “certainly one of a sort.”
By Lee Jung-gook, employees reporter
Please direct questions or feedback to [english@hani.co.kr]
