All members of NewJeans have announced their intention to return to their agency, ADOR—but industry insiders say the reunion may not go as smoothly as expected. Reports suggest that ADOR might not accept Minji, Danielle, and Hanni back into the agency, as the three reportedly informed ADOR of their return without prior consultation.
According to legal experts, ADOR has sufficient legal grounds to notify the three members of the termination of their exclusive contracts.
On November 12, the three members conveyed their desire to return to ADOR through Hanil Law Corporation, about three hours after Haerin and Hyein had officially announced their return through ADOR.
What drew attention was ADOR’s subdued response. The agency stated it was “in the process of confirming (the three members’) intentions,” signaling a cautious stance on their rejoining. This reaction contrasts with ADOR’s previous calls for the group’s reunion. The agency’s hesitation is said to stem from the need to verify whether the three truly intend to honor their exclusive contracts, as, unlike Haerin and Hyein, they did not engage in direct discussions with ADOR before their announcement.
Industry sources are skeptical about the prospect of NewJeans resuming full-group activities under ADOR. One insider noted, “When ADOR says it’s ‘confirming their intentions,’ it implies the company doubts the sincerity of the three members. It also suggests uncertainty about whether they can work harmoniously as NewJeans again.”
Another official from the entertainment industry commented, “The way Minji and Hanni conducted themselves during the emergency press conference and the National Assembly audit likely damaged ADOR’s trust in them. Given that, it’s unclear if ADOR will accept their unilateral decision to return without sufficient consultation.”
Legal professionals agree that ADOR has strong grounds to terminate the exclusive contracts of the three members. While contract termination is something NewJeans members had previously sought, experts note that if the contracts are dissolved, the legal responsibility could shift to the members themselves.
Because NewJeans enjoyed peak popularity before the dispute, the potential compensation owed to ADOR could reach a level difficult for individual members to bear.
Noh Jong Eon, a representative attorney, explained, “The meaning of the first trial ruling confirming the validity of the exclusive contract isn’t that the contract must continue indefinitely. Rather, if the contract is terminated, the responsibility lies with NewJeans, not ADOR. Based on that, ADOR could notify the three members of termination and demand accountability.”
Attorney Jang Sung Soo of The All Law Firm added, “The actions taken by the NewJeans members may have caused an irreparable breakdown of trust. There’s a significant chance ADOR won’t accept all three members back.”
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