On January 23, the group released a joint statement revealing they have hired legal representation to counter the actions taken by ADOR and HYBE. The statement, signed by all five members — Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein — expressed their determination to sever ties with their former agency.
Hello, this is Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein.
Recently, it was reported that ADOR filed a lawsuit to validate the legality of our exclusive contract. They also sought an injunction to prevent the cancellation of advertising deals and to maintain our contractual obligations. We received notice of this a few days ago and have appointed Law Firm Sejong as our legal representatives.
Given that HYBE and ADOR have retained Law Firm Kim & Chang to represent their interests, we felt it necessary to engage a legal team that could effectively handle this escalating situation. After careful consideration, we chose Sejong due to their expertise and understanding of the issues within HYBE and ADOR.
The members went on to detail their grievances, accusing HYBE and ADOR of breaching their responsibilities as a management agency. They highlighted the companies’ failure to provide proper protection and accused them of engaging in underhanded tactics, including secret meetings with their parents to pressure them into returning.
HYBE and ADOR have failed to fulfill their obligations as an agency, neglecting their responsibility to support and develop their artists. Throughout our activities, we encountered numerous disruptions, both minor and significant. Rather than supporting us, they attempted to justify abandoning us by disguising it as an extended vacation meant to end our careers in entertainment.
Even after the legal termination of our exclusive contract, we’ve faced baseless criticism spread through media and online channels. The information fueling these attacks could only have come from within HYBE and ADOR, leading us to believe they are behind these malicious actions.
Although they repeatedly urge us to return, HYBE and ADOR continue to harass and undermine us. Recently, they have held secret meetings with our parents, either to manipulate us into reconciling or to further drive a wedge between us. Instead of resorting to these cowardly tactics and feeding false narratives to the media, we urge them to engage with us in an honest and transparent manner.
The members made it clear that reconciliation with HYBE and ADOR is no longer an option.
We want to be absolutely clear: the five of us have no intention of ever returning to HYBE and ADOR, where even the most basic trust cannot be established.
Following the termination of our contract, we initially sought to fulfill our remaining scheduled activities and obligations to minimize harm to others involved. However, as HYBE and ADOR continue to damage our reputation and refuse to cooperate, we can no longer remain silent. Their improper methods have hurt not only us but also those around us.
We are determined to pursue this matter through the legal system to expose the truth and hold HYBE and ADOR accountable for their actions.
To our fans, we deeply regret causing you worry. We promise to do everything in our power to return to you with our music and activities as soon as possible. Your support means the world to us. Thank you.