K-pop group NewJeans has officially announced their departure from agency ADOR.
The members — Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, held an emergency press conference on Nov. 28, to discuss their decision.
Earlier on Nov. 13, NewJeans sent a formal certification of contents to ADOR, demanding that the agency address multiple breaches of their exclusive contracts within 14 days.
The girl group warned that they would terminate their contracts if the demands were not met.
Lack of response from ADOR
During the press conference, the members explained the reasons for their departure.
They stated that the deadline for ADOR’s rectification efforts had passed, and there was no meaningful response from the agency.
They expressed their dissatisfaction with the agency’s lack of commitment to their well-being, adding that ADOR had failed to protect them as artists.
“If we remain here, it will be a waste of our time, and our mental distress will continue,” they said.
“There is nothing that we can gain in terms of our work, so the five of us think that there is no reason at all for us to remain at ADOR.”
NewJeans member Hanni revealed that the group had experienced mistreatment not only directed at them but also their staff, pointing to communication issues, contradictions, and manipulation in their dealings with the agency.
The members announced that their exclusive contracts with ADOR would officially terminate at midnight on Nov. 29, 2024.
What’s next for NewJeans?
In addition, they clarified that despite the termination, they would fulfil their pre-scheduled commitments, including advertising contracts.
They also reassured fans that they would continue to work on music and activities, despite potential challenges with the group name.
While the group acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding their future with the name NewJeans, they made it clear that they “will continue to work to secure the rights to the name NewJeans”.
Danielle said “NewJeans never dies,” emphasising that the name represented everything the group had achieved together.
She also mentioned that the group hoped to release new music soon and connect with fans around the world.
Leader Minji concluded the press conference by expressing hope that the group’s future endeavours would be met with respect, both in the workplace and in their personal lives.
“We hope everyone can work in an environment where there is respect for each other, free from harassment,” she said.
ADOR asserts contract validity
In response to the press conference, ADOR issued a statement contradicting NewJeans’ claims.
The agency asserted that their exclusive contracts with the group remained valid, expressing disappointment that the press conference was held without proper review and before receiving a reply to the letter of demand.
“ADOR has not violated the agreement, and claiming that trust has been broken does not justify termination.”
ADOR also addressed NewJeans’ concerns about communication, stating that the agency had made several attempts to meet with the artists, but these efforts had been unsuccessful.
They also expressed hope that NewJeans would be open to engaging in honest discussions, reaffirming ADOR’s commitment to supporting the group in their growth as global artists.
Min Hee Jin’s dispute with HYBE
The dispute began in April 2024 when HYBE, known for managing BTS, launched an internal audit of Min Hee Jin, the former CEO of ADOR and the creator of NewJeans.
This move effectively accused Min of breaching trust and attempted to remove her from her position.
Min was eventually dismissed as ADOR’s CEO on Aug. 27.
Two weeks later, on Sep. 11, NewJeans’ members called for her reinstatement during a YouTube livestream, addressing internal tensions with ADOR that had affected their work.
After a court rejected Min’s injunction to return as ADOR’s CEO in October 2024, she announced on Nov. 20 that she would step down as an internal director and sever ties with HYBE.
NewJeans has yet to announce their next steps.
Top images via NewJeans.