NewJeans is back in the spotlight as all five members—Minji, Danielle, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein—intend to return to their original agency, ADOR, after a long contract dispute. The situation has attracted a lot of attention, especially because one member, Hanni, missed an important meeting earlier this month.
As per Star News on November 17, Hanni didn’t attend the meeting between ADOR CEO Lee Do Kyung, the members, and their guardians on November 11 because she was overseas.
She had decided not to take part in discussions about the conditions for returning to the agency. This clarified the identity of the “member in Antarctica” mentioned in previous announcements. ADOR plans to hold an individual meeting with Hanni when she returns to Korea.
Previously, on November 12, ADOR confirmed that Haerin and Hyein had decided to return to the agency. The company said that the decision was made after careful consideration with their families and discussions with ADOR. The two members chose to respect the court’s ruling and continue their activities under the agency.
Shortly afterward, Minji, Hanni, and Danielle also announced their decision to return through their legal representatives. They explained that a member’s overseas stay delayed the announcement and that ADOR hadn’t responded yet, so they issued their statement separately. The label responded cautiously, saying they are confirming the members’ sincerity and coordinating individual meetings.
The news about the full return caused a stir among fans, who were especially curious about the “member in Antarctica.” Speculation ran wild online, with some joking that Danielle was participating in the Antarctic Marathon or that someone had met Hanni in Ushuaia, Argentina. In fact, a fan spotted Hanni there on November 13.
Ushuaia, at the southern tip of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego Island, is known as the southernmost city in the world and a common starting point for trips to Antarctica. The fan shared a photo, saying Hanni had dyed her hair brown and looked happy while giving an autograph.
The return comes after a long legal battle. In November 2024, NewJeans announced they were terminating their contract with ADOR, citing a loss of trust after former CEO Min Hee Jin and all employees left the company. In response, ADOR filed a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract and filed an injunction to prevent the members from independent activities.
In March, the court ruled in ADOR’s favor and blocked members from performing activities independently till the verdict in the main lawsuit is reached.
After a lengthy battle, the court confirmed that the contract was valid on October 30. The court stated that the departure of the former CEO did not create a management vacuum at NewJeans, and the contract didn’t require Min to remain in charge. With the appeal deadline passed, the ruling became final.
Even after the court ruling, the members initially said they could not continue under ADOR. But now, all five have expressed their intention to return.
The agency plans individual meetings with Haerin and Hyein, who returned through regular negotiations, and with Minji, Hanni, and Danielle, who announced their return separately. ADOR’s exclusive contract with NewJeans runs until July 31, 2029.