HANNI

In December, K-pop news was dominated by SHINee's Key announcing a hiatus due to a scandal, PSY's police investigation over prescription drugs, and the wedding of Kim Woo-bin and Shin Mina after 10 years of dating. Other highlights included dating rumors between BTS's Jungkook and aespa's Winter, and NewJeans' contract issues with member Daniel.

ADOR has initiated a lawsuit against Daniel, a former member of NewJeans, her family, and ex-CEO Min Hee-jin, seeking 431 billion won in damages. The lawsuit, citing breach of contract, has been assigned to the Seoul Central District Court. ADOR claims Daniel's departure caused significant issues, leading to the contract termination.

ADOR has launched legal action against individuals making malicious posts about its artists, including harassment and defamation. They are actively monitoring social media and music platforms, collecting evidence, and have involved external experts for serious cases. Additionally, they are cooperating with authorities on deepfake crimes. The company emphasizes its commitment to protecting artists' rights and has announced the termination of Daniel's contract due to his family's involvement in recent disputes, while Hani has decided to return to the group after a respectful dialogue with ADOR.

ADOR announced it has filed a lawsuit against Daniel for breach of contract after terminating his exclusive contract with NewJeans. They cited violations related to independent activities and damage to the group's reputation. Meanwhile, discussions continue with other members, including Hani's return and ongoing talks with Minji.

ADOR has clarified the status of NewJeans members' return. Hani has decided to continue with ADOR after discussions, while Minji is in ongoing talks. Daniel's contract has been terminated due to difficulties in continuing as a member. ADOR aims to resolve misunderstandings and restore trust with fans.

NewJeans has deleted their newly created SNS accounts amid an ongoing dispute with ADOR regarding their exclusive contract. Initially, they claimed to have terminated the contract and communicated with fans through these accounts. However, following their announcement to return to ADOR, the accounts were made inaccessible. The members had previously lost a lawsuit against ADOR but decided not to appeal, leading to their return discussions with ADOR.

A man was fined 15 million won for creating and distributing obscene images of NewJeans members. The court noted the high reach of his actions on Telegram. ADOR is committed to protecting artists' rights and has taken legal measures against harmful content. NewJeans is also facing legal changes regarding their contract with ADOR after a recent court ruling.

ADOR has announced increased legal measures to protect NewJeans from malicious fake news, privacy violations, and defamation. They plan to file criminal complaints against those spreading harmful content and are actively cooperating with authorities to combat deepfake crimes. Amid contract disputes, two members have returned to ADOR after a court ruling upheld their contract, while the remaining members expressed their decision to return separately.

Min Hee-jin, former ADOR representative, emphasizes that NewJeans exists as a complete group of five. In a recent interview, she highlighted the importance of their unity and urged that the members should be protected from unnecessary conflicts. Following a year of legal disputes, the group is set to return to ADOR, with all members expressing their commitment to work together. Hee-jin respects their decision and hopes for their happiness and growth as a cohesive unit.

NewJeans chose not to appeal a court ruling that confirmed their exclusive contract with ADOR. The members expressed their intention to continue working with ADOR after careful consideration. Following the ruling, all five members communicated their commitment to return to the group, with ADOR confirming they are verifying this intention and will hold individual meetings with the members.