This morning, K-Pop girl group NewJeans held an emergency press conference to announce their departure from the label ADOR. The conflict between the two parties began earlier this year when Min Hee-jin, NewJeans’ executive producer, was dismissed as CEO of ADOR by HYBE’s board members over allegations of attempting to seize control of the label. The group later sent a formal demand letter to ADOR, outlining several corrective actions, including the reinstatement of Min Hee-jin. Tensions escalated further when Hanni alleged that a manager from Betlift Lab, a HYBE sub-label, instructed another K-Pop group to “ignore” her during an encounter at HYBE.
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The situation reached a boiling point on November 13, when NewJeans issued a legal notice to ADOR, citing major contract violations. Their demands included reinstating Min Hee-jin as CEO, issuing an apology for discriminatory remarks made against Hanni, and resolving disputes over unauthorized use of photos and videos. The group also threatened to terminate their contracts if their concerns were not addressed within 14 days.
While ADOR claimed they were working to resolve the issues and urged Betlift Lab to approach the matter with respect, the two-week deadline concluded today without resolution. As a result, NewJeans convened their press conference to announce their decision to leave ADOR.
All five members—Hanni, Haerin, Minji, Hyein, and Danielle—stated they were departing due to ADOR’s lack of “both the will and the capability to protect NewJeans.” During the conference, Hanni elaborated on their decision:
“We faced mistreatment not just towards us but also towards our staff. There were countless pretensions and contradictions, deliberate miscommunications, and manipulations in various areas. A company fixated solely on profits without sincerity in its art and music, while ignoring the negative effects of its inauthentic practices, is not an environment we respect or want to be part of. To continue under such conditions would only harm us. That is why we, as a group, have unanimously decided to leave ADOR. We chose to hold this emergency press conference to clearly express our side before any misleading information is released.”
As for their future, the group’s next steps remain uncertain. Thousands of fans are left wondering what lies ahead for NewJeans. The members emphasized their commitment to maintaining their identity, stating, “We will not give up the name ‘NewJeans.’ We will work hard to reclaim it.” Danielle added, “Regardless of our name, NewJeans never dies.”
Since their debut in 2022, NewJeans has achieved monumental success, amassing millions of fans worldwide. Their hit song “Ditto” won the MAMA Award for Song of the Year and marked their debut on the Billboard Hot 100. The group’s second EP, Get Up (2023), topped the Billboard 200, making NewJeans only the second K-Pop girl group to achieve this milestone. Fans were eagerly anticipating a new album in 2024, but the escalating dispute with ADOR halted the recording process.
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