All members of NewJeans who had effectively “left home” during the legal standoff are now back under ADOR.
The group halted operations on March 21 after the court approved ADOR’s request for an injunction preventing members from pursuing independent schedules. Even then, New Jeans announced that they would continue the legal battle, claiming that their trust in ADOR had been “irremediably broken.”
But the situation changed dramatically on October 30, when the court ruled in the first trial that ADOR had fulfilled its main contractual obligations by rejecting members’ claims.
On November 12, the first signs of reconciliation appeared when Min Hee Jin’s protégés Hyein and Haerin announced their return. Soon after, Minji, Hanni and Danielle followed suit: marking New Jeans‘complete return to ADOR.
The most important factor behind this collective comeback appears to be legal pressure. Staying out of the ADOR would have avoided it New Jeans from promoting independently until their exclusive contract expired on July 1, 2029, effectively sidelining them for nearly four years. On top of this, they faced the possibility of paying large penalties, estimated to be worth nearly KRW 600 billion.
Initially, the members believed that siding with former ADOR CEO and producer Min Hee Jin, whom they considered a mother figure, would help them win their fight against HYBE, the company that holds 80% of ADOR’s shares. They notified ADOR that their contract would automatically end on November 29, 2024.
But corporate law painted a different picture. ADOR is a joint stock company and the right to vote is directly linked to the ownership of the shares. With Min Hee Jin only holding 18% and the rest of management only 2%, she remained an employee and not the controlling power she seemed to have. His demands to retain the CEO position and appoint preferred board members were legally unrealistic for a minority shareholder.
In the first trial the court rejected all 11 pleas New Jeans indicated for the termination of the contract. As the appeal deadline approached, members probably realized that the second and third trials could drag on for another two or three years with little chance of success.
For a girl group, time is everything. New Jeans They may be a driving force of the fourth generation, but no girl group can stand the test of time. New, younger teams are constantly emerging and image is critical. Continuing court appearances would only damage their public perception.
Their meteoric rise from their 2022 debut to the top of the Billboard 200 Get up and placing five songs on the Hot 100 shows how vital these years are to their career. Yet the legal dispute has already dampened some of their momentum. Minji’s emotional statement outside the court”We cannot accept remaining under ADOR when trust has collapsed” became an unfortunate symbol of the turmoil.
With fans and the general public increasingly weary of court headlines, New JeansReturning is a necessary step to stabilize one’s image. Fans may welcome the group’s decision to resume activities, but continued support cannot be taken for granted. The group must rebuild trust and regain focus.
While New Jeans and ADOR have achieved surface-level reconciliation, true internal harmony has yet to be restored. Their brand image has been shaken and the next phase will require careful rebuilding.
New Jeans they must now negotiate, compromise and rebuild their working relationship with ADOR and HYBE based on realistic expectations. If they can rebuild their confidence, strengthen their system, and refocus on their music, they could emerge even stronger.
Their sound and style could evolve without Min Hee Jin’s influence, however New JeansThe future depends on their authenticity, work ethic and the quality of music they deliver for the future.
Even though ADOR prevailed legally, the entertainment industry thrives on collaboration and not hierarchy. For New Jeans and ADOR to be successful, both parties must engage in honest communication and aim for mutual growth. The possibility of success is still fully within reach.
And with the group finally unified again, fans are hoping so New Jeans will soon return to the world stage stronger and more dazzling than before.
Sources: Daum
