ADOR Terminates Danielle's Contract While Hanni Returns to NewJeans
ADOR announced major developments in the NewJeans dispute on December 29, confirming Hanni's return to the agency while terminating member Danielle's exclusive contract-potentially ending the group's time together as a five-member act.
Hanni visited South Korea with her family for discussions with ADOR following the October 2025 court ruling that upheld NewJeans' contracts through 2029. After reflecting on past events, she decided to respect the court's decision and continue with the agency. Minji remains in ongoing discussions about her return.
ADOR took a different approach with Danielle, announcing they terminated her contract because continuing together as NewJeans members and ADOR artists was no longer feasible. The agency stated it will pursue legal action against a member of Danielle's family and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, holding them responsible for the dispute and delays in the members' return.
The conflict began in November 2024 when all five members-Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein-announced they were leaving ADOR after the agency refused to reinstate Min Hee-jin as CEO. Min was removed from her position in August 2024 during a power struggle with parent company HYBE.
ADOR filed a lawsuit in December 2024 seeking confirmation that the contracts remained valid. The Seoul Central District Court ruled in ADOR's favor on October 30, 2025, finding that Min's removal did not constitute a contract breach. The court rejected NewJeans' claims of workplace harassment and mistreatment, stating the members' personal trust in Min alone didn't establish that guaranteeing her CEO position was a contractual obligation.
After the ruling, Haerin and Hyein became the first members to announce their return to ADOR on November 12, 2025, followed by statements from Minji, Hanni, and Danielle. However, ADOR expressed caution about accepting the latter three members' return announcements, noting they were made without prior coordination.
During recent discussions, ADOR learned the members had been receiving what the agency called "distorted and biased information" over time, creating misunderstandings about the company. ADOR emphasized that rebuilding trust with fans and the public would require time and transparent communication.
The members had attempted to continue activities independently under the name "NJZ" in early 2025, but court injunctions blocked their efforts. They performed at ComplexCon Hong Kong in March 2025 under the new name before being ordered to cease independent activities.
NewJeans debuted in 2022 and quickly became one of K-pop's biggest success stories with hits like "Ditto," "OMG," and "Super Shy." Their EP "Get Up" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2023, and the group charted five songs on the Billboard Hot 100.
With Danielle's contract now terminated and uncertainty surrounding Minji's status, the future of NewJeans as a complete group remains unclear despite Haerin, Hyein, and Hanni's confirmed returns to ADOR.
