Last month, all five members of NewJeans — Hyein, Haerin, Hanni, Danielle, and Minji — signaled they would return to label Ador as a band following their prolonged legal battle. But on Monday, the label revealed that while talks are underway with some members, Danielle’s contract has come to an end.
In a new statement on Monday, Ador provided a status update on the discussions the label was having with Minji, Hanni, and Danielle about their return. The three members previously shared in a separate statement that “after careful discussion,” they too would rejoin Ador.
According to the label, Hanni and her family recently visited Korea and “engaged in discussions,” ultimately deciding to remain with Ador “in respect of the court’s decision,” and that Minji is also in discussions still, though no final decision has been shared for her.
As for Danielle, the company confirmed it has ended her contract altogether, and that the label planned to sue her and former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin, who was leading the group’s rebranding efforts, and who Ador claims bears “significant responsibility for causing this dispute and for the delays in NewJeans’ departure and return.”
Min Hee-jin did not immediately return Rolling Stone‘s request for comment.
“We determined it would be difficult to continue with Danielle as a NewJeans member and Ador artist and notified her today of the termination of the exclusive contract,” the label said in the statement.
Back in June, a South Korean court ruled that the group must honor its contract with the Hybe subsidiary through 2029. Hyein and Haerin agreed to “continue their activities” with the label, while the other three — who had initially hoped to rebrand as NJZ and planned to appeal the ruling — later entered talks as well, with the label sharing in November that all five were discussing a return.
In Monday’s statement, the company shared that it would work to rebuild trust with fans amid the changes with the group, and the future of it.
“Through these conversations, Ador came to understand that the members had been exposed to persistently distorted and biased information over a long period, leading to significant misunderstandings about the company and ultimately escalating into this dispute,” Ador wrote. “The company and the artists share the view that, to regain the love of fans and the public, it is necessary to fully resolve these misunderstandings based on accurate facts, even if it takes some time.”
