ADOR has shared a major update on the future of NewJeans, revealing where things stand for the group’s remaining members after recent court rulings confirmed the validity of their contracts with the HYBE label.
Last month, Haerin and Hyein returned to ADOR following a Seoul district court decision on October 30 that upheld NewJeans’ exclusive contracts and rejected the group’s year-long attempt to terminate them. Now, the agency has addressed the situation of Minji, Hanni, and Danielle.
In a statement posted on its official Korean social media channels, ADOR said it had held “extensive discussions” with Minji, Hanni, Danielle, and their families after the court’s ruling. The label had previously maintained that it was still checking whether the three members intended to return, despite reports suggesting they already had.
Early on December 29, ADOR confirmed that Hanni has decided to stay with the company. After what the label described as “in-depth, extended conversations,” the 21-year-old Melbourne-born singer chose to continue under HYBE, following the path taken by Haerin and Hyein.
The situation remains unresolved for Minji. ADOR said the group’s eldest member is still in talks with the company, with discussions ongoing to build “greater mutual understanding.” An update on the 21-year-old is expected later.
Ador ends contract with NewJeans’ Danielle
For Danielle, however, the outcome was final. ADOR announced that it had determined it would be difficult for the 20-year-old to continue as a NewJeans member and ADOR artist. As a result, the company notified her of the termination of her exclusive contract.
The statement added that ADOR plans to pursue legal responsibility against one member of Danielle’s family and former CEO Min Hee-jin, saying they bear significant responsibility for causing the dispute and for delays related to NewJeans’ departure and return.
Addressing the broader conflict, ADOR said the discussions helped the company understand that the members had been exposed to “persistently distorted and biased information” over a long period. According to the label, this led to misunderstandings about the company that eventually escalated into the dispute.
ADOR said both the company and the artists believe these misunderstandings must be fully resolved based on accurate facts to regain public trust, even if it takes time. The agency added that controversies arising during the dispute will be addressed later, with talks underway on how and when to do so.
ADOR concluded by saying it will do everything possible to resolve the situation amicably and help NewJeans return to fans as soon as possible. It remains unclear whether the group will continue as a three-, four- or five-member act. NewJeans has not released new music since Supernatural in the summer of 2024.
The NewJeans Effect on HYBE Stock
Meanwhile, the NewJeans dispute has had a noticeable impact on HYBE’s stock. After the court ruling in late October, HYBE shares jumped more than 5% the next day and reached their highest level of the year in early November. When news broke in late November that Haerin and Hyein were returning to ADOR, the stock again rose nearly 5% the following day. Overall, HYBE shares are up nearly 63% so far this year amid the ongoing NewJeans conflict.
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