Source: NewJeans Official Website
© Screenshot from newjeans.kr

Haerin (19) and Hyein (17) of girl group  have officially returned to ADOR, signaling a major turning point in the year-long conflict between HYBE and its subsidiary label. Their comeback is more than just a team reunion — it marks a potential shift in what has been one of K-pop’s most significant power struggles: “HYBE vs. Min Hee-jin.”

■ The Beginning — HYBE’s Audit and Min Hee-jin’s Revolt

The conflict traces back to April 2024, when HYBE initiated an internal audit of ADOR, accusing then-CEO Min Hee-jin of attempting to separate the label from HYBE’s corporate structure.
 Min fired back, arguing that HYBE “failed to protect the NewJeans brand” and interfered excessively with ADOR’s creative direction.

Trust quickly crumbled. Min criticized HYBE for treating NewJeans as “just another brand in its multi-label system,” while HYBE accused her of breaching shareholder agreements and convened a board meeting. By August 2024, Min was officially dismissed as ADOR’s CEO, triggering an unprecedented feud between producer and parent company.

■ NewJeans’ Move — “The Trust Is Broken”

Following Min’s dismissal, NewJeans members took action.
In November 2024, the group declared that “their concerns about company management were ignored” and announced the termination of their exclusive contracts with ADOR. They demanded Min Hee-jin’s reinstatement, and when the request was denied, the members began pursuing independent activities outside the label.

ADOR responded immediately, filing a lawsuit to confirm contract validity.
In both the March 2025 injunction and the October 2025 first trial, the Seoul Central District Court sided with ADOR, ruling that the exclusive contracts remained valid. The court concluded that Min’s dismissal and management disputes “did not amount to an irreparable breakdown of trust.”
 As a result, the members’ solo activities were legally halted.

■ The Turning Point — Haerin and Hyein Return

On November 12, 2025, ADOR released an official statement confirming the return of Haerin and Hyein:

“After careful discussion with their families, both members decided to respect the court’s ruling and honor their contracts.”

ADOR added that it would “fully support the two members so they can continue their activities smoothly” and urged the public to refrain from unfounded speculation.

The two members’ decision marks their first official return to ADOR since announcing independence a year ago. Their comeback immediately reignited interest in the group’s future.

Source: HYBE Corp. Official Announcement

■ What About the Remaining Members?

The other three members — Minji, Hanni, and Danielle — have not yet announced their plans.
However, with Haerin and Hyein leading the way, the industry is buzzing with possibilities: unit promotions, gradual full-group reconciliation, or even renegotiation of label terms.

One industry insider commented,

“This move represents a practical truce after a prolonged legal battle. It’s likely that the remaining members will explore paths toward reconciliation with ADOR as well.”

■ Why the Industry Is Watching

The NewJeans dispute has exposed the underlying tension between creative independence and corporate control in K-pop.
 HYBE’s business-system-driven model clashed head-on with Min Hee-jin’s artist-centered philosophy — and the courts ultimately favored contractual stability.

The return of Haerin and Hyein signifies more than a reunion; it’s the first tangible outcome of that legal and ideological clash.

While the final chapter of this saga has yet to be written — with Min Hee-jin’s next steps, HYBE’s strategy, and the fate of the remaining members still uncertain — one thing is clear:
The NewJeans case has become a defining moment for K-pop’s future, forcing the industry to confront deeper questions about artist rights, creative autonomy, and the balance of power between producers and corporations.

Haerin and Hyein’s return isn’t a happy ending — it may well be the beginning of K-pop’s next reckon