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Seoul, South Korea – In an unexpected turn of events, members of the popular K-pop idol group NewJeans suddenly announced their departure from ADOR, a subsidiary under the powerhouse label HYBE, in a late-night press conference on November 28, 2024. The development has caused a stir in K-pop circles and beyond, while fans and industry players continue to speculate on what next for the group.
New Jeans consists of members Haerin, Danielle, Hanni, Minji, and Hyein. The group cited a series of grievances against ADOR and HYBE as the main cause for their decision. The group’s creative director, Min Hee-jin, has been the central figure in this dispute, having recently resigned from ADOR. The members have expressed their desire to work freely with Min Hee-jin and carry out activities that align with their artistic vision.
Danielle, one of the members of the band, expressed their bond with their fans, called Bunnies, and promised to be able to release new music as soon as possible during the press conference. Once they are out of ADOR, they can finally do the activities that they really want to do freely. But the group has also realized that they may not be able to use the name NewJeans anymore once their contract with ADOR is already terminated.
ADOR responded to the announcement, saying the agreement between the agency and the band members still takes effect and urged the group to continue on with their collaboration in further activities. The agency, further, mentioned that it has never violated the exclusive contracts between NewJeans members and themselves and are willing to support growth for the group.
This controversy has brewed since months back, whereby NewJeans’ mistreatment and harassment allegations have come against HYBE. One of its members, Hanni testified to South Korea’s National Assembly, where she mentioned that “I have been totally Ignored since April this year by most of the senior managers at HYBE, while she accused other employees of speaking ill of NewJeans on the community app called Blind. It also alleged that the management plagiarized New Jeans’ concept and debuted a similar girl group named Illit.
The dispute, which has seen audits and lawsuits against each other, also includes demands for the reinstatement of Min Hee-jin and criticism of HYBE for allowing a toxic work culture. The decision of the group to leave ADOR marks a bold move to take back their artistic freedom and protect their mental health.
With the legal fights still ongoing, the future of NewJeans hangs in the balance. The group’s fans have shown overwhelming support for them, rallying behind them on social media to hope for their continued success. The K-pop world is closely watching the developments, given this case may set changes into motion regarding how agencies manage their artists.
NewJeans’ journey is far from over, and their determination to pursue their dreams without constraints testifies to their resilience and dedication to their craft. The world awaits their next steps and the new music they promise to deliver.
