Just when we thought we were gonna have a quiet festive season, this news jolted us from our seats: NewJeans agency ADOR announced that Danielle’s contract has been terminated, Hanni returns to the band and Minji is in talks.
A message posted on ADOR’s official social media channels in Korean, stated that the label has “engaged in extensive discussions with Minji, Hanni, Danielle and their families following the finalisation of the district court’s decision confirming the validity of the exclusive contracts.”
The message also added ADOR intends to “pursue legal accountability against one member of Danielle’s family and former CEO Min Hee-jin, who bear significant responsibility for causing this dispute and for the delays in NewJeans’ departure and return.”
This comes after a Seoul court’s October 30th ruling on ADOR’s exclusive contracts with NewJeans remain valid.
The other two members Haerin and Hyein had officially announced their return to ADOR in November.
Here’s The Full Timeline
It all started in April 2024: Hybe announced an audit on its subsidiary label, Ador (NewJeans’ management company), and asked Min Heejin (Ador’s then-CEO and NewJeans’ creative director) to step down.
A day later, Min hosted a press conference with South Korean press and journalists where she accused Hybe of plagiarism and creative infringement. The conference included a slideshow consisting of screenshots of text messages and email exchanges with Hybe Chairman and founder, Bang Shihyuk, and other Hybe executives. Hybe responded with a statement the day after, stating that they would be taking legal action and reporting her to the police for a breach of trust.
Ador’s ex-CEO, Min, in tears during her press conference held on April 25, 2024.
- May 2024: Be:Lift Labs, another Hybe subsidiary and management label of K-pop groups Enhypen and Illit) sues Min for defamation. This case is still ongoing. Meanwhile, the South Korean court rules that Min can continue her post as Ador’s CEO, blocking Hybe’s dismissal of her.
- June 2024: Be:Lift Labs files a second lawsuit against Min: a civil lawsuit for her alleged defamation and slander against their artists, Enhypen and Illit. This case is still ongoing.
- July 2024: Source Music, another Hybe subsidiary and management label of K-pop group Le Sserafim, also sues Min for alleged defamation and disruption of business. This case is still ongoing.
Meanwhile, Danielle pens a personal letter to Min, calling her a “mother and warrior” and offers her support, writing, “I always pray for you, support you and love you.” Min posts it on her Instagram.
- August 2024: Min officially steps down as CEO of Ador. Kim Ju-young, a Human Resources specialist, is to replace her. Days after, Min would state that she had rejected Hybe’s offer that would allow her to stay as NewJeans’ producer as it was “unreasonable.”
- September 2024: NewJeans (consisting of five members: Minji, Hanni, Haerin, Hyein and Danielle) go on a 27-minute YouTube livestream, demanding Min’s reinstatement as Ador’s CEO. During this livestream, the members double down on Min’s importance as their mentor and creative director. This is also the first time the members describe the alleged mistreatment and toxic work environment that they experienced under Hybe. The video has since been deleted.
Hanni claims that the manager of another Hybe group instructed their members to “ignore (Hanni).” Haerin also talks about how Hybe ignored Min, the girls and their parents concerns about a recent online leak that included videos of the girls as trainees as well as personal information and medical records.
- October 2024: NewJeans send Ador a notice stating that should Min not be reappointed as Ador’s CEO by November 27, 2024, the group will leave. Min is reappointed as an internal director for Ador. However, her request to be reinstated as CEO was denied, leading her to resign from Ador and demand they buy her company shares.
NewJeans members (from left to right) Haerin, Danielle, Minji, Hanni and Hyein host an emergency press conference on November 28, 2024 announcing their intentions to terminate their contracts with Ador.
- November 2024: NewJeans announces that they are leaving Ador during an emergency press conference. Ador responds with a statement simply stating that their exclusive contracts remain valid (the members signed a standard seven-year exclusive contract that expires in 2029).
- December 2024: Ador files a lawsuit against NewJeans to “confirm the validity of the exclusive contract” and enforce it.
- January 2025: Ador files an injunction against NewJeans.
- February 2025: NewJeans announces a rebrand to NJZ with a series of photos and a now-deleted Instagram page. The group also confirms their first performance as NJZ at the ComplexCon Hong Kong Festival in March that year.
On March 7, 2025, NewJeans attended their first court hearing for Ador’s lawsuit at Seoul Central District Court.
- March 2025: The Seoul Central District Court sides with Ador on their injunction against NewJeans. This means that the girls cannot continue activities (e.g. signing advertising contracts) without Ador’s approval. The group responds via their Instagram (now deleted) that they plan to challenge the court’s decision. Two weeks later, the group performs their new song Pit Stop as NJZ at the ComplexCon Hong Kong Festival. This performance will be their last as five, as the group announces that they will be respecting the court’s ruling and will thus be going on a temporary hiatus.
- October 2025: The Seoul Central District Court rules that NewJeans’ contracts with Ador remain valid due to insufficient evidence to support the girls’ claims for termination. Meanwhile, the girls double down on their stance to halt activities with Ador through their lawyers, reiterating their desire to terminate their contracts with Ador as they no longer trust the label, and that they plan to file an appeal.
- November 2025: Hyein and Haerin announce their decision to return to Ador and continue their activities with them. Shortly after this announcement, the other members, Danielle, Minji and Hanni, also announce their plans to return to Ador in their own statement.
- December 2025: Ador announces that they are terminating their contract with Danielle and will be pursuing legal action against a member of Danielle’s family and Min as they “bear significant responsibility for causing this dispute and for NewJeans’ departure and delayed return.” Meanwhile, Ador has announced Hanni’s return to the label, while Minji is still in talks with them.
A day after announcing the termination of Danielle’s contract, an Ador representative tells South Korean press that they will also be suing Danielle herself for penalty fees, amounting to 43.1 billion Korean won (around S$38.3 million).