In an official statement released the same day, ADOR revealed that it had been in ongoing discussions with members Minji and Hani, as well as Danielle’s family, since deciding to file a lawsuit seeking confirmation of the exclusive contract’s validity. Notably, Hani stated that after extensive discussions with her family in Korea, she chose to resume activities under ADOR out of respect for the court’s ruling. Meanwhile, regarding Minji, the agency explained, “We are continuing discussions to further mutual understanding.”
In contrast, the situation surrounding Danielle developed differently. Addressing her case directly, ADOR stated, “We determined that it would be difficult to continue working together as a NewJeans member and an ADOR artist, and therefore notified her today of the termination of her exclusive contract.” Furthermore, the agency emphasized that it plans to pursue legal accountability against one member of Danielle’s family and former CEO Min Hee-jin, whom it claims bear significant responsibility for triggering the dispute, as well as for Danielle’s departure from NewJeans and the delay in her return.
This decision follows a recent court ruling that upheld the validity of ADOR’s exclusive contracts. On October 30, the 41st Civil Agreement Division of the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of ADOR in its lawsuit to confirm the contracts’ validity with NewJeans.
Subsequently, in November, ADOR disclosed that members Haerin and Hyein had expressed their intention to continue their activities.
Read ADOR’s full statement
Since the decision to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract, ADOR has engaged in extensive discussions with Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, Hyein, and their families.
Hanni, accompanied by her family, visited Korea and had an in-depth conversation with ADOR over an extended period. During this time, she reflected on past events and examined the situation objectively. Following an honest and open discussion, Hanni decided to respect the court’s ruling and remain with ADOR.
Minji is also in ongoing discussions with ADOR, as both sides continue to work toward a deeper mutual understanding.
In Danielle’s case, it was determined that it would be difficult for her to continue as a member of NewJeans while also being an artist under ADOR. Accordingly, she was informed today of the termination of her exclusive contract. Additionally, Danielle’s family and former CEO Min Hee-jin, whose actions contributed to this dispute and were directly responsible for her departure and return to NewJeans, will be held legally accountable.
Throughout these conversations, ADOR learned that the members had been exposed to distorted and biased information over a long period, which led to misunderstandings and disputes regarding the company. Both ADOR and the artists agree that, in order to restore the trust and support of fans and the public, it is essential to fully resolve these misunderstandings based on accurate information, even if it requires time. Furthermore, they have agreed to set aside an opportunity to address the various controversies that arose during the dispute, with the timing and method currently under discussion.
ADOR is committed to resolving this matter smoothly and ensuring that NewJeans can return to the public as soon as possible.
ADOR
