New Jeans is a K-pop girl group phenomenon known for their impressive array of records and the charming “girl-next-door” vibes of members Hanni, Minji, Haerin, Danielle, and Hyein, along with their distinctive music videos.
Recently, the group has faced several scandals related to their management company, ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE. The former CEO of ADOR, Min Hee-Jin, who played a crucial role in the creation of New Jeans, was removed from her position due to allegations from HYBE claiming she sought to manage the group independently. Min has denied these accusations and is currently engaged in a legal battle with HYBE. Although she regained her CEO title, she chose to step down, citing unreasonable conditions imposed by HYBE.
Other HYBE branches, including BELIFT LAB and SOURCE MUSIC, are suing Min for claims made during her press conferences. BELIFT LAB, which manages ILLIT and ENHYPEN, is pursuing 2 billion won (approximately $1.4 million) over allegations that Min accused them of plagiarizing concepts for ILLIT. While the similarities between the two girl groups are notable, there is currently no definitive public evidence for these claims. SOURCE MUSIC, home to LE SSERAFIM, is suing Min for 500 million won (around $360,000) over her comments that they neglected some New Jeans members during their training.
Throughout this turmoil, New Jeans has consistently shown support for Min Hee-Jin, even expressing their gratitude during award ceremonies. Danielle wrote a supportive letter that Min shared on her Instagram.
Following Min’s removal, New Jeans hosted a now-deleted live session discussing ongoing issues with their company and requested Min’s reinstatement by September 25. When HYBE declined, they allowed Min to remain as a producer during the girls’ contracts, a role she ultimately refused due to unacceptable terms.
During the live session, Hanni spoke out about experiencing workplace bullying, noting that a manager from ILLIT instructed members to ignore her. She later testified about this in South Korea’s Parliament, advocating for better treatment of artists. However, her proposal, dubbed the “New Jeans Hanni Act,” was rejected as lawmakers stated that Hanni could not be classified as a worker under the Labor Standards Act.
On November 13, 2024, New Jeans issued a legal notice to ADOR and HYBE, stating they would terminate their contract if the alleged breaches were not resolved within two weeks. ADOR received the notice on November 14, setting a deadline of November 28.
While ADOR responded to New Jeans, it appears the response did not meet the group’s expectations. In a press conference held just before the deadline on November 29, the members announced their decision to terminate their contracts, expressing that remaining with ADOR would be detrimental to their well-being. They felt compelled to take action to present their side of the story before their companies could act.
The decision to terminate their contracts may lead to significant penalties for early termination before the contract’s expiration in 2029. Haerin stated during the conference that they believed they would not incur these fees, arguing that it was ADOR and HYBE who had breached the contract.
Additionally, severing ties with their management could result in losing the name “New Jeans.” The members assured fans they would fight to retain the name, which symbolizes their achievements and identity.
In response, ADOR released a statement asserting that New Jeans would continue as artists under the company and that their contracts had not been terminated.