On November 28 at 8:30 PM, NewJeans (Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, Hyein) held an emergency press conference at the Galaxy Hall in Spaceshare Samseong COEX Center, Gangnam, Seoul, to address their ongoing conflict with ADOR and HYBE over their exclusive contract.
During the press conference, Minji confirmed that their contract with ADOR would be terminated at midnight, stating, “HYBE and ADOR claim there are no valid reasons for the termination, but we believe otherwise. ADOR is no longer the same company we once worked hard alongside. The relationship we cherished with key personnel has been broken. Despite our requests for resolution, the agency failed to act within the 14-day notice period. Their insincere attitude confirmed our decision to end the contract.”
Danielle added, “We will no longer be ADOR artists but will continue fulfilling our remaining schedules and commitments, including advertisements. Our priority is not causing harm to others while pursuing the career we genuinely want.”
Addressing questions about potential penalties, Haerin said, “We have not breached our contract; we’ve done our best as artists. HYBE and ADOR, on the other hand, have violated their obligations. Therefore, any responsibility for penalties lies with them, not us.”
Hyein clarified concerns about the group’s name, stating, “Though we may face obstacles in using the name NewJeans temporarily, we will not give it up. To us, it’s more than a trademark—it holds the essence of everything we’ve built. We’ll continue to fight for our right to the name.”
Earlier, on the 13th, NewJeans sent a letter to their agency, ADOR, with the title ‘Request for Corrective Action Regarding Breaches of Exclusive Contract,’ signed by the five members under their real names—Kim Minji, Hanni Pham, Danielle Marsh, Kang Hyerin, and Lee Hyein.
In the letter, the members raised several concerns, including the need for clarification regarding a statement in HYBE’s music industry report that suggested “It’s a matter of dropping ‘New (NewJeans)’ and starting over.” They also demanded legal actions, both civil and criminal, related to this issue.
The group requested an official apology from the BELIFT LAB manager who allegedly told Hanni to “ignore her”, the removal of unauthorized photos and materials that were used without consent, and a resolution to the harm caused by alleged “album pushing” practices.
Furthermore, they called for solutions to issues stemming from a dispute with Dolphiners Films’ director Shin Woo Seok and the deletion of works affected by the conflict. NewJeans also emphasized the importance of protecting their distinct identity and creative output.
Additionally, the members demanded the return of former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin and made it clear that if these issues were not addressed within 14 days, they would terminate their exclusive contracts. In response, ADOR assured on the 14th that they would work diligently to resolve the situation and continue their relationship with the artists.
ADOR’s response fell short of expectations, with Min Hee Jin stepping down as a director on November 20. The agency released a statement on November 27, acknowledging Hanni’s claims of mistreatment and urging BELIFT LAB to address the issue respectfully.
Despite ADOR’s promises to resolve the matter, NewJeans expressed disappointment with the lack of meaningful action, emphasizing that their decision to terminate the contract was final. The group’s future now hinges on their ability to navigate legal and industry challenges while retaining their identity and creative freedom.