NewJeans / Joint Press Corps
NewJeans, which debuted as a five-member woman group, has successfully turn out to be a four-member act three-and-a-half years after its launch, with the opportunity of shrinking to a few members nonetheless open as Minji’s return to company Ador stays unresolved. With the group’s long-anticipated comeback anticipated later this 12 months, consideration is now targeted on how the reconfigured staff will transfer ahead.
All 5 members stated late final 12 months that they meant to return to Ador, bringing an finish to their authorized dispute with the company. That marked a reversal a couple of 12 months after that they had moved to terminate their unique contracts in November 2024 and pursue unbiased actions.
Since their debut, NewJeans had produced a string of megahits together with “Consideration,” “Hype Boy,” “Tremendous Shy,” “Bubble Gum” and “Ditto,” shortly rising to the highest of the Ok-pop scene. However simply over two years into their profession, their contract dispute with Ador halted new releases, although the group continued to seem at year-end awards exhibits and on varied levels for a time.
The battle ultimately went to courtroom, and judges sided with Ador on each the injunction the corporate filed and the lawsuit searching for affirmation of the contracts’ validity. After the first-instance ruling, the members initially opposed returning, however the state of affairs shifted when Haerin and Hyein introduced via Ador that they might resume their actions below the company.
Ador stated on the time, “The 2 members, along with their households, made a cautious choice after thorough discussions with Ador to respect the courtroom’s ruling and adjust to their unique contracts,” including that it might do its finest to assist their careers.
Consideration then turned to the remaining three members — Danielle, Minji and Hanni — who later additionally expressed their intention to return. Not like Haerin and Hyein, nonetheless, they did so with out prior settlement with the company. Ador stated it was “verifying the sincerity of their intentions,” and remained cautious.
On Dec. 29, 2025, Ador confirmed Hanni’s return and stated discussions with Minji have been ongoing, however delivered a shock by asserting Danielle’s removing. The company stated, “We’ve got decided that it’s tough to proceed along with Danielle as a NewJeans member and Ador artist, and right now notified her of the termination of her unique contract.” It added that authorized motion can be taken in opposition to one in all Danielle’s members of the family and former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin, saying they bore main duty for the dispute and the delays within the group’s return.
With Danielle out, NewJeans now stands as a four-member group, although Minji’s standing stays undecided, leaving open the opportunity of a three-member lineup. Followers who’ve supported the group are nonetheless calling for Danielle’s return, however such a situation seems unlikely, elevating questions on how supporters of the unique five-member formation will reply.
Past the lineup adjustments, the group additionally faces the problem of regaining public belief. In the course of the year-long authorized battle, public sentiment towards NewJeans cooled considerably, and criticism has grown over what many see as unilateral strikes by Danielle, Minji and Hanni each in leaving and making an attempt to return.
Ador acknowledged the uphill job. “We and the artists agree that restoring the love of followers and the general public requires a strategy of absolutely clearing up misunderstandings based mostly on correct information, even when it takes time.” The corporate added that it plans to handle controversies from the dispute at a later date.
With Ador having beforehand stated it had already accomplished preparations for a brand new full-length album, a comeback can’t be postponed indefinitely. Because the remaining members’ conditions are finalized, business watchers are intently following what path NewJeans will select because it tries to navigate its most unsure chapter but.
This text from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Instances, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Instances.
