Photo Credit: Screenshot from NewJeans Official Website (newjeans.kr)

All five members of NewJeans have officially announced their return to their label ADOR on November 12, marking 348 days since the group declared the termination of their exclusive contracts on November 29 last year.

Haerin (19) and Hyein (17) first announced their return in the afternoon, followed two hours later by Danielle, Hanni, and Minji, who made the same decision.
With this, the year-long conflict between HYBE and ADOR’s former CEO Min Hee-jin has entered a new phase.

■ “A Carefully Considered Decision” — NewJeans Reunites as a Complete Group

Through their legal representatives, Danielle, Hanni, and Minji stated,

“After careful discussion, we have decided to return to ADOR.”

They added, “One member was in Antarctica, which delayed communication, and due to a lack of response from ADOR, we are issuing this statement separately. We will continue to meet our fans with sincere music and performances.”

Earlier that day, ADOR had issued a press release confirming the return of Haerin and Hyein:

“After extensive discussions with their families, the two members have decided to respect the court’s ruling and comply with their contracts. We will do our best to support NewJeans’ smooth return to activities.”

It is believed that Haerin and Hyein’s decision influenced the remaining members to follow suit.

■ The Root of the Conflict — HYBE’s Audit and Min Hee-jin’s Dismissal

The NewJeans dispute traces back to April 2024, when HYBE conducted an internal audit of its subsidiary ADOR.
HYBE accused then-CEO Min Hee-jin of attempting to make ADOR independent, while Min countered that HYBE had “failed to protect the NewJeans brand.”

Trust between the two sides quickly collapsed.
HYBE claimed Min violated shareholder agreements and convened a board meeting, which led to Min’s dismissal on August 27, 2024.
In response, NewJeans members submitted a letter demanding Min’s reinstatement within two weeks, but ADOR rejected the request.
On November 29, 2024, the members declared that “trust had broken down” and notified ADOR of contract termination.

■ The Lawsuits and Rulings — The Court Sides with ADOR

NewJeans attempted to continue activities independently under the name NJZ, but the court repeatedly ruled in ADOR’s favor.
ADOR filed for an injunction to preserve its management rights and prohibit independent commercial contracts, and also sought confirmation of the validity of the exclusive contracts—winning in both cases.

The court stated that “Min’s dismissal and inadequate protective measures do not constitute an irreparable breakdown of trust,” ruling that the contracts remained legally valid.
As a result, NewJeans’ independent activities were legally halted.

■ “No Way Forward” — A Practical Decision

Behind the members’ return lies a simple reality: there was no other way forward.
 With the court ruling in ADOR’s favor, continuing the lawsuit would have meant years of suspended activities.

A producer familiar with the situation said,

“If the civil case went all the way to the Supreme Court, it could take years, and the group wouldn’t be able to perform during that time. If ADOR pursued damages, the financial burden would be enormous. In the end, there was no choice but to return.”

ADOR had already stated recently that it had “completed preparations for NewJeans’ next album release,” suggesting that a comeback may take place soon.

■ Min Hee-jin’s New Agency “OOAK” Faces Uncertainty

Meanwhile, the future of “OOAK (One of A Kind)”, the new agency founded by Min Hee-jin last month, appears uncertain.
Speculation had circulated that NewJeans members might join the agency after their legal dispute, but with all members returning to ADOR, Min’s new venture seems to have hit a major obstacle from the start.

Within ADOR, producer Hitchhiker and other creative teams are reportedly being considered as replacements,
and Min Hee-jin’s return to any role in ADOR is considered virtually impossible, as legal disputes between HYBE and Min continue.

■ “348 Days Later, Back to Square One”

NewJeans’ return marks the end of a 348-day saga — but the story’s significance goes far beyond a simple comeback.
This case symbolized a deeper struggle within the K-pop industry: creative autonomy vs. corporate system, and artist rights vs. contractual control.

For both HYBE and ADOR, this moment may be viewed as the first step toward reconciliation,
but with Min Hee-jin still a factor in the background, the NewJeans story is far from over.