NewJeans has officially announced its intent to terminate its exclusive contract with ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE, citing unresolved contractual violations and irreconcilable differences.
At a press conference held at a venue in Gangnam, Seoul, the group declared that the deadline for resolving their grievances passed at noon today without satisfactory action or response from ADOR or HYBE. As a result, NewJeans announced they would terminate their contract effective 12:00 AM on November 29, 2024.
Minji, one of the group’s members, stated, "We are terminating the contract because ADOR and HYBE have violated its terms. We’ve had multiple conversations with them, but they failed to address our concerns. Therefore, per the contents of our notice, we are proceeding with the termination."
Allegations Against ADOR and HYBE
On November 13, NewJeans sent a formal notice to ADOR, citing major breaches in their contract. The group demanded corrective measures within 14 days, which ended today. Among the grievances:
- An offensive comment directed at member Hanni by a Belift Lab manager, allegedly saying, "Ignore her."
- A leaked internal HYBE document reportedly stating, “It’s easier to scrap NewJeans and start fresh.”
- A request for the reinstatement of former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin.
Despite ADOR issuing a public statement on November 27 expressing regret over the incident involving Hanni, the group claimed it lacked substantial resolutions to their demands, particularly regarding leadership changes and internal disputes.
Group’s Sentiments on Min Hee-jin and Bang Si-hyuk
When asked about working with Min Hee-jin in the future, Haerin expressed hope, saying, “We want to continue having great activities with her. While we haven’t directly spoken about this, we believe she shares our vision.”
On questions directed toward HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, Haerin was curt, stating, “We have nothing further to say to him.”
Next Steps
NewJeans refrained from elaborating on potential legal proceedings, stating that their legal team is still deliberating their course of action.
As the situation unfolds, the announcement marks a pivotal moment for NewJeans, one of K-pop’s rising stars. Fans and industry watchers are now closely monitoring how this dispute will impact the group’s future and the reputation of their agency.