• ADOR has terminated NewJeans member Danielle’s exclusive contract and notified her of the decision.
• ADOR said it will hold legally responsible one family member of Danielle and former CEO Min Hee-jin for causing the dispute.
• Hanni will remain with ADOR after in-depth talks; Minji continues negotiations. Haerin and Hyein previously said they would return.
• ADOR says misunderstandings arose from distorted information and plans to resolve controversies and restore fans’ trust.
H2: ADOR ends Danielle’s exclusive contract
South Korean agency ADOR announced on December 29 that it has terminated the exclusive contract of NewJeans member Danielle. The agency said it judged that Danielle could not continue as a NewJeans member and ADOR artist, and informed her of the contract termination on the same day.
H3: Legal action to follow
In its statement, ADOR added it will seek legal responsibility from one family member of Danielle and former CEO Min Hee-jin, saying these parties “bear significant responsibility” for the dispute, NewJeans’ departure, and delays in the group’s return. ADOR did not name the family member in its public statement.
H3: Where the other members stand
ADOR confirmed it has held extensive conversations with Hanni, Minji and Danielle, and that Hanni visited Korea with her family for extended discussions. After those talks, Hanni decided to continue with ADOR, respecting a recent court ruling that confirmed the validity of the agency’s exclusive contracts.
Minji remains in ongoing discussions with ADOR as the parties work to broaden mutual understanding. Earlier, Haerin and Hyein had announced their intention to return after the year-long lawsuit concluded and the first trial ruled in ADOR’s favor.
H4: Background — the lawsuit and dispute
Last year the five NewJeans members held an emergency press conference claiming the breakdown of their exclusive contracts with ADOR. The dispute led to a lawsuit to confirm the validity of those contracts. ADOR won the first trial, and the company says it has since engaged in dialogue with the members and their families to resolve issues arising from the conflict.
H4: ADOR’s view on misunderstandings
ADOR said the dialogue revealed members had been exposed to “distorted and biased information” over a long period, which contributed to misunderstandings about the company and the ensuing dispute. The agency and the artists agreed on the need to resolve those misunderstandings based on accurate facts before NewJeans can fully regain public support.
H5: What’s next for NewJeans and fans
ADOR said it will aim to resolve the matter amicably and return NewJeans to their fans as soon as possible, while handling other controversies from the dispute at a later date. With Danielle leaving the group and legal steps planned, the immediate focus will be on finalizing discussions with Minji, and on long-term steps to rebuild trust.
Note: ADOR released a full statement detailing these developments on December 29, 2025.
Image Referance: https://www.chosun.com/english/kpop-culture-en/2025/12/29/BUKRZQCXZZDPFDDGDCMENZBQRI/
