NewJeans members announced their return to ADOR, attracting significant media attention in Japan after a year of separation.
November/13/2025 17:57
NewJeans members announced their return to their former agency ADOR, drawing attention in Japan. On November 12th in the afternoon, all members of NewJeans announced their return to ADOR. This is the first movement in about a year since they declared the termination of their exclusive contract last November. ADOR officially announced that Hae-rin and Hae-in decided to return after discussions. About two and a half hours after the announcement, Minji, Hani, and Danielle also expressed their intention to return to their agency, but this was done not through ADOR but via a law firm. Prior to this, NewJeans had sought the return of former representative Min Hee-jin, who was dismissed due to a conflict with HYBE, but this was not accepted. In November of last year, ADOR unilaterally claimed contract termination, asserting a breach of the exclusive contract, and the members had left the agency. ADOR still claims that the contract with NewJeans is valid and filed a lawsuit in December to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract. They also filed a provisional injunction to restrict the members' independent activities until the ruling on the main case, and the court ruled favorably for ADOR in both the provisional injunction and the first trial. Following the first trial's results, the dramatic news of ADOR's return was covered widely in Japan. Major media outlets like Yahoo! News, Asahi Shimbun, and Yomiuri Shimbun featured articles on NewJeans as top stories in entertainment, showing great interest. This is understandable, as NewJeans has a tremendous influence in Japan. Since their debut on July 22, 2022, their song 'Ditto' surpassed 100 million streams on the Oricon chart within 19 weeks, the fastest record for a foreign female artist. In August 2023, they performed at Japan's leading music festival 'SUMMER SONIC,' causing entry restrictions at the largest MARINE STAGE due to their popularity. In November of the same year, despite not having officially debuted in Japan, they received the Excellent Work Award and Special Award at the 'Japan Record Awards,' and were nominated for the Grand Prize, proving their high popularity. After officially debuting in Japan in June 2024, their debut single 'Supernatural' achieved million-seller status, with the title track topping major Japanese music charts. At the same time as their official debut in Japan, they realized a concert at Tokyo Dome, the fastest for a foreign artist, just 1 year and 11 months after debuting, attracting over 91,200 spectators during the two-day fan meeting 'Bunnies Camp,' creating a significant buzz. Thus, NewJeans has established a unique position in Japan in less than two years since their debut. With excellent musicality, a refined concept, and styling that resonates with the MZ generation, they rapidly increased their fan base in Japan. The attention from major Japanese media on this return news indicates that NewJeans has become an influential presence that transcends Hallyu and K-POP, impacting the global market. Having overcome numerous challenges, NewJeans has expressed their return to their former agency, and there is continued interest in what activities they will pursue in the future.
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NewJeans members have officially announced their return to ADOR after individual meetings and discussions about their future. The decision comes nearly a year after a unilateral contract termination. While two members returned after careful consideration, the remaining three expressed their intent to return, leading to mixed reactions from fans.
Min Heejin, former head of ADOR, supports NewJeans' return, highlighting the members' courage and the importance of their unity. She expresses gratitude to fans for their support and hopes for the members' happiness and growth. Heejin also clarifies that her ongoing lawsuit with HYBE is unrelated to NewJeans.
NewJeans members Hae-rin and Hae-in confirmed their return to ADOR after careful consideration. Following this, Minji, Hani, and Daniel also expressed their intent to return, but their announcement was made without prior consultation with ADOR, leading to speculation about their future activities. ADOR is currently verifying the intentions behind their return.
NewJeans members Minji, Hani, and Danielle have announced their intention to return to ADOR, confirming their decision after careful discussions. This follows Hae-rin and Hae-in's earlier announcements. The group had previously declared a contract dispute with ADOR, but now all five members may resume activities together after nearly a year.
NewJeans members Hae-rin and Hae-in have decided to continue their activities with ADOR, respecting a court ruling regarding their contract. ADOR expressed commitment to support them in their entertainment activities and requested fans to refrain from speculation about the members' situation.
A legal battle escalated between ADOR and the Dolphin Kidnapping Gang over music video rights, with Min Hee-jin testifying in court. The dispute arose after director Shin Woo-seok uploaded a director's cut of 'ETA' to his YouTube channel without permission. ADOR claims this harmed their interests, while Min argues it’s a common industry practice. The court is examining the validity of claims regarding management responsibilities and contract practices.
NewJeans lost a lawsuit against ADOR regarding their exclusive contract, with lawyers indicating a slim chance of winning an appeal. The court ruled that there was no valid reason to terminate the contract. If NewJeans prolongs the case, they may not be able to perform until 2027. ADOR expressed gratitude for the ruling, while NewJeans plans to appeal, citing a complete breakdown of trust with ADOR.
SOURCE MUSIC has countered former ADOR head Min Hee-jin's claims in a lawsuit regarding NewJeans. They presented evidence in court, including videos of the member selection process, to refute her statements about the group's formation and HYBE's commitments. Min Hee-jin is also involved in a separate lawsuit with BELIFT LAB over similar allegations.
Daniel from NewJeans participated in a 10K marathon, finishing with a personal best of 46 minutes. He shared a moment with former marathon runner Lee Young-jin. Meanwhile, NewJeans lost a lawsuit against ADOR regarding their exclusive contract, with the court ruling that the contract remains valid despite their claims.
The Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of ADOR in a lawsuit regarding the validity of exclusive contracts with NewJeans members. The court dismissed ILLIT's plagiarism claims, stating that while some similarities exist, they do not constitute plagiarism. The court also noted that the concept of an idol group's image is not easily classified under publicity or intellectual property rights. Following the ruling, NewJeans members expressed their intention to appeal, citing a complete breakdown of trust with ADOR.
