NewJeans has officially announced their departure from ADOR, a HYBE Labels subsidiary. The group held an emergency press conference on November 28.
They addressed their contract termination and answered questions from reporters. Here are 4 key takeaways from the press conference.
1. Why is NewJeans leaving ADOR?
HYBE and ADOR have been in a public dispute for several months. The conflict centers on NewJeans and former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. Both NewJeans members and their parents strongly support continuing work with Min Hee Jin.
NewJeans believes ADOR can no longer protect them adequately. Hanni revealed the group faced mistreatment at ADOR. She described experiencing “deliberate miscommunications and manipulation.” The group feels ADOR now focuses only on profits instead of artistic integrity.
Minji made their position clear when asked about HYBE founder Bang Si Hyuk. She stated, “We want to continue working with CEO Min Hee Jin, and we don’t have anything to say to that person separately.”
2. What is the cost of leaving ADOR?
Reports suggested NewJeans would need to pay HYBE ₩300 billion KRW ($225 million USD). However, Haerin firmly rejected these claims.
She stated clearly, “I’ve read several articles about penalties, but we have not violated our exclusive contract. We’ve worked hard and done our best so far, so we believe there’s no reason for us to pay any penalties.”
3. Will NewJeans still be NewJeans after leaving ADOR?
The group’s name rights remain uncertain after their departure. However, Danielle expressed their determination to keep their identity.
She declared powerfully, “We are well aware that from today we might not be able to use our current name NewJeans. However, that doesn’t mean that we are giving up on the name at all. We will continue to fight for NewJeans. Regardless of our name, remember, NewJeans never dies.”
4. What is the future of NewJeans?
The group sees this change as an opportunity for growth. They plan to pursue activities that align with their vision. NewJeans has already scheduled several upcoming events.
Danielle shared their plans enthusiastically: “Once we leave ADOR, we will proceed freely with the activities we really desire. We will try our best to continue without complications. We really wish to release new music for Bunnies next year. We hope to meet fans from all around the world.”
