Haerin and Hyein announce their return to ADOR in the late afternoon; the remaining three follow suit a few hours later.

Five-member girl group NewJeans—Haerin, Hyein, Minji, Danielle, and Hani—announced on November 12 that they will return to ADOR. The group previously halted activities last November amid a dispute over their exclusive contract with the agency.

The return was staggered: Haerin (19) and Hyein (18) disclosed their intention to resume activities through ADOR around 5 p.m., with the company saying the two had carefully discussed the decision with their families and had consulted with the company, respecting the court ruling and the contract.

Approximately three hours later, the remaining members—Minji (21), Danielle (20), and Hani (21)—stated they would rejoin ADOR after careful consideration, though their return was not discussed with ADOR beforehand. They explained that one member was currently in Antarctica, which delayed the communication, and they pledged to continue delivering sincere music and performances. ADOR said it is currently verifying the three members’ intentions.

Background: NewJeans had been involved in a contract dispute after Hybe removed producer Min Hee-jin from ADOR in August of the previous year, which the members cited as a reason for seeking changes to their management. In November of the same year, a press conference was held in which the group declared a termination of their exclusive contract. On October 30 of this year, the court’s first-instance ruling favored ADOR, confirming the validity of the exclusive contract.

The members did not publicly comment on the reasons behind their return, but analysts noted that the adverse outcome in the first instance could have contributed to psychological pressure to reconcile. The court stated that it found little evidence of fault on ADOR’s side. The timing of the declaration—just one day before the deadline to file an appeal—adds a layer of complexity to the situation.

If the group can resume as a full unit, their activities are expected to proceed under the ADOR leadership under CEO Lee Do-kyung, who took the helm in August. ADOR previously indicated that preparations for a regular album and other activities had been completed in anticipation of the members’ return. NewJeans’ original contract term with ADOR runs until July 2029.