NewJeans is once again at the center of attention after three members confirmed their return to ADOR. After Danielle’s removal, it appears talks with Minji to return to the NewJeans were not successful either.
Three members, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein, have been spotted rehearsing in London, seemingly preparing for a comeback as a trio.
Between February 25 and 28, 2026, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein were frequently seen in London’s West End. Fans reported the trio attending a performance of the hit musical Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre, where they were seated with security.
One fan even shared that Hyein briefly confirmed her identity during intermission. Reports suggest they were in London rehearsing with ADOR’s original production team, including producer Jerri. Many fans interpreted this as a sign that activities are resuming, possibly as a trio.
Recently, the CCTV footage at a London dance studio surfaced online. The image showed the three NewJeans members rehearsing. The screenshot spread rapidly on social media, with the account sharing it reportedly traced back to Korea.
The leak led to rumors that NewJeans may continue as a three-member group. Online, some netizens began referring to the trio as “3H,” combining the initials of Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein.
The dance studio involved, BASE Studios, released an official statement addressing the issue. The studio said the footage was captured and shared without authorization. After conducting an internal investigation, they found that a former intern was responsible for recording and distributing the images.
BASE Studios said they immediately terminated the internship and filed a formal report with UK police. The individual has been identified. The studio stated they were “deeply shocked and appalled” and confirmed they are cooperating fully with ADOR while reviewing their security procedures.
The current situation cannot be separated from the long-running dispute between HYBE and former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin.
The conflict began in 2025 and resulted in multiple legal battles. Court rulings confirmed the validity of ADOR’s exclusive contracts with the members. After this, the members’ positions became clearer but also divided.
Haerin and Hyein first expressed their intention to return to ADOR, followed by Hanni. However, on December 29, 2025, ADOR announced that Danielle’s exclusive contract had been terminated. The company stated that it was “difficult to continue together.” ADOR also said it would pursue legal action against a family member of Danielle and Min Hee Jin, holding them partly responsible for the dispute.
This officially reduced the group to four members, with leader Minji’s status still unresolved. ADOR has stated that discussions with Minji are ongoing; however, it is unclear if she will stay.
In late February 2026, Min Hee Jin held a press conference following a partial legal victory that granted her a put option valued at approximately 25.6 billion won (about 17.89 million US dollars).
During the conference, she offered to give up the 25.6 billion won in exchange for ending all civil and criminal lawsuits between herself and HYBE. She said there were values she wanted more than money and emphasized that the NewJeans members were her main concern. She expressed sadness over seeing some members performing while others were involved in legal battles.
HYBE responded briefly, stating that they had “no position” on her proposal.
NewJeans has not released new music since the single album “How Sweet” and Japanese debut single “Supernatural” in May and June 2024, respectively.
