NewJeans, one of the biggest K-pop groups in the world, have been embroiled in a complicated dispute with their music company for over a year. The drama started as a disagreement between the group’s leader, Min Hee-jin, and their parent company HYBE, but quickly grew into something much bigger that affected the entire group.
If you’re confused about what really happened and why it matters, you’re not alone. This situation made headlines because it showed how complicated the K-pop industry can be. It wasn’t just about money or contracts: it was about trust, power, and what happens when workers and bosses stop getting along completely.
Read on to understand the full timeline of events that led to NewJeans’ current position.
April 22, 2024: HYBE launched a surprise audit against ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin. They accused her of wanting to make ADOR independent and stealing management rights, but Min said she was punished for complaining that another HYBE group, ILLIT, copied the style of NewJeans.
April 25, 2024: Min Hee-jin held a famous and emotional press conference in which she denied any takeover claims. She cried and used strong language, saying that HYBE had betrayed her and that she only cared about protecting NewJeans.
May 30, 2024: Min won the first round of the legal battle. A court an injunction was granted this prevented HYBE from firing her as CEO during a shareholder meeting, allowing her to temporarily keep her job
July 2024: As the fight between the company and Min Hee-jin worsened, member Danielle showed her strong support for its CEO. He wrote a touching hand written letter to Min, calling her “Mom” and “Warrior”. In the letter he wrote: “My beloved CEO… there is no one like you in this world. You are our protector and our family.”
August 27, 2024: HYBE successfully removed Min Hee-jin from the CEO position and appointed Kim Joo-young, a human resources specialist, as the new head of ADOR. Min refused to accept the offer to simply stay on as a producer, calling the contract unfair
September 11, 2024: The five members of NewJeans have opened a secret YouTube channel hold a live stream. They demanded that HYBE reinstate Min Hee-jin as CEO by September 25, marking the first time members have publicly chosen sides.
October 15, 2024: Member Hanni testified alone in the National Assembly regarding workplace bullying. She tearfully claimed that a manager of another group HYBE told her artists to “ignore her,” which has become a major issue regarding the treatment of idols.
October 29, 2024: The deadline has expired and the request to reinstate Min as CEO has been officially rejected by ADOR’s board of directors. This refusal set the stage for the group to take drastic legal action
November 13, 2024: NewJeans has submitted a “Content Certification” to ADOR. This is a formal legal warning stating that if the agency did not resolve specific breaches of contract within 14 days, the group would leave.
November 28, 2024: The group held an emergency press conference in which it declared the termination of the contracts. They argued that ADOR had broken the fundamental trust needed to work together, but ADOR immediately responded that the contract was still valid.
January 2025: It was revealed that the members had requested trademark rights to a new name, “NJZ”. They had planned to restart their career independently under this new brand to avoid copyright issues with the “NewJeans” name.
March 2025: The Seoul Central District Court issued an injunction blocking the group’s independent activities. The judge ruled that they could not promote themselves as “NJZ” or sign with third parties until the main case regarding the validity of the contract was resolved.
March 21–23, 2025: NJZ they made their debut under the new name at ComplexCon Hong Kong, a major music and fashion festival. Each member performed individual covers of classic R&B songs from the ’90s and 2000s: Danielle sang “No Scrubs” by TLC, Minji performed “Smile for the Camera” by Upsahl, Haerin sang “Dontcha” by The Internet, Hyein sang “Use Your Heart” by SWV, and Hanni performed “My Boo” by Ghost Town DJs.
At the same concert, NJZ first debuted a new song called “Pit Stop”.
Following the performance at ComplexCon, the Seoul Central District Court issued an injunction preventing NJZ from continuing its independent activities. The judge ruled that they could not promote themselves as “NJZ” or sign with third parties until the main case regarding the validity of the contract was resolved.
March 23, 2025 (late night): After performing “Pit Stop,” the five members gathered on stage to make an emotional announcement. They told the crowd they were taking a temporary break to comply with the court’s decision.
October 30, 2025: The Seoul District Court has issued the final ruling on the main case. The judge decided that the exclusive contract between NewJeans and ADOR was valid and would remain in effect until 2029. The court explained that, although the relationship between the members and the company was bad, “distrust” is not a legal reason to cancel a binding contract.
November 11, 2025: Members Hyein and Haerin were the first to announce their return to the agency. They have issued statements saying they will respect the court’s decision to avoid paying large fines for breaking the contract
November 23, 2025: The remaining members – Minji, Hanni and Danielle – also agreed to return. The group officially reunited under ADOR management, ending their year-long attempt to become independent
December 22, 2025: Danielle made the group’s first major public appearance since the controversy ended. She attended a charity event delivering charcoal briquettes with singer Sean. Photos showed her sweating and working hard, and she told people at the event: “I’m sweating, but I’m happy.”
