The legal standoff between NewJeans (Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein) and their agency ADOR has taken a deeply personal turn, as it was revealed that Hyein’s parents were involved in a court dispute over custody, reportedly due to differing views on the group’s attempt to terminate their exclusive contract with the agency.
Family Conflict Exposed in Court
The custody issue came to light during the first hearing for the exclusive contract validity lawsuit between NewJeans and ADOR on April 3, held at the Seoul Central District Court. During the proceedings, the presiding judge raised a question about “Defendant 4,” referring to one of the underage members whose custody situation had recently been decided by family court.
Initially, online speculation identified the member as Haerin, based on court filings involving someone surnamed “Kang.” However, it was later confirmed that the minor in question was Hyein, and that her father had opposed terminating the contract with ADOR. In contrast, Hyein’s mother supported her daughter’s decision and filed a petition with the Seoul Family Court to obtain sole custody — a petition the court granted, legally removing Hyein’s father from the decision-making process.
Sources say that Mr. A, Hyein’s father, was against leaving ADOR, which created substantial tension within the family. The court ultimately sided with Ms. B, Hyein’s mother, giving her full parental authority over matters related to the lawsuit and the idol’s career.
Rumors, Denials, and Clarifications
News of the custody dispute fueled rumors of broader parental division within the group. However, on April 4, the NewJeans Parents’ Association issued a public statement pushing back against the claims, saying:
“Reports claiming there is division among the members’ families are completely false. All five members are firmly united in their decision not to return to HYBE.”
The statement specifically addressed speculation about Haerin, clarifying:
“Haerin and both of her parents are fully aligned. The custody adjustment pertains to a different member, and in that case as well, both the child and the mother are fully in agreement. We ask that speculation about family matters stop.”
At present, Haerin and Hyein are the only minors in the group, indirectly confirming that the custody case involved Hyein’s family.
The Bigger Picture: NewJeans vs. ADOR
In November 2024, NewJeans members announced they would no longer honor their contracts with ADOR, citing a complete breakdown of trust. The agency responded by filing legal action to confirm the validity of their contracts and requested an injunction to prevent the members from signing new management or promotional deals.
On March 21, 2025, the court approved the injunction, effectively blocking the group from continuing their independent rebranding under “NJZ” and halting solo activities or commercial partnerships.
Despite this, the group made one final public appearance at ComplexCon Hong Kong 2025 on March 23, where they performed and then announced a pause in all activities. Following the performance, their social media handles were changed from “NJZ” to “MHDHH” (based on the initials of each member), and all previous content was removed.
In a joint statement after the court ruling, the members said:
“We respect the court’s decision, but believe it failed to consider the complete collapse of trust between us and ADOR. We intend to challenge the ruling through additional legal procedures.”
They emphasized that the injunction is temporary, and the main lawsuit to dissolve their contracts is still ongoing. The group hopes to submit further evidence at upcoming hearings to support their claims and formally terminate the contracts.
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