The so-called “revolution” within NewJeans appears to have come to an end, at least for some. Members Haerin and Hyein have officially returned to ADOR, revealing a rift in the group’s position and marking a new chapter in the ongoing legal dispute and internal discord.
On November 12, ADOR released a statement confirming: “Haerin and Hyein have expressed their intention to continue activities with ADOR. After careful deliberation with their families and in-depth discussions with the agency, the two members have decided to respect the court’s ruling and maintain their exclusive contracts.”
ADOR further added, “We will do our best to support Haerin and Hyein’s smooth return to entertainment activities. We kindly ask fans to continue to support the members and refrain from spreading speculation.”
The conflict began in November last year when NewJeans declared its intention to operate independently, accusing ADOR of violating their exclusivity contracts. ADOR responded by filing a lawsuit to validate the contracts and seeking an injunction to prohibit independent businesses until the court’s decision.
The court sided with ADOR, granting all injunctions, including a ban on independent promotions and advertising deals for members. In May, the court imposed a fine of ₩1 billion (about $770,000) per violation and per member who continued unauthorized activities.
Attempts at mediation in August and September failed, leading to a final ruling on October 30. Although the members initially expressed their intention to appeal citing a complete breakdown of trust with ADOR Haerin and Hyein’s unexpected return just 13 days later, they fundamentally changed the narrative.
Meanwhile, Minji, Hanni and Danielle have yet to announce their positions, and the two-week appeal period from the verdict date is quickly closing.
Earlier this year, the group drew criticism during an exclusive interview with TIME in which they spoke about contractual unfairness, suggesting, “K-pop won’t change overnight. This might be Korea’s reality,” and stating, “It seems like Korea is trying to turn us into revolutionaries.” These comments were seen by many as tone-deaf and dismissive of the broader industry and cultural context.
While Haerin and Hyein appear to be backing away from that revolutionary position, all eyes are now on the remaining members. Will they also return to ADOR or will they remain steadfast in what they once called a revolution? The future of NewJeans hangs in the balance.
Sources: born
