NewJeans declare their return after a lengthy legal dispute, with a timeline of key events.

In September 2024, NewJeans released an unannounced live stream on a newly created YouTube channel, calling on ADOR to revert to its original system by the 25th. HYBE responded by stating that Min Hee-jin’s return as CEO was not possible, while offering a compromise that would keep her as a board member for five years and continue NewJeans’ production. The group, however, rejected restoring the original ADOR structure.

By mid-October, the dispute had moved to the National Assembly’s Environment & Labor Committee, where representatives from ADOR and NewJeans attended. Hanni reiterated claims of mistreatment, while Kim Ju-young said he believed her statements but could not find legally verifiable evidence. The hearing drew unexpected support for NewJeans from lawmakers, and the atmosphere resembled a concert at times.

On November 28, NewJeans held a press conference announcing that they would terminate their exclusive contracts at midnight on the 29th. Minji said the contract was interpreted as terminated due to lack of response, while their legal counsel promised further clarification. Haerin argued that they had not breached the contract, countering claims of penalties, and ADOR countered that the exclusive contract remained valid. The following day, the five members stated they would be free to act after the termination.

In December, during Yoasobi’s show in Korea, NewJeans could not say “NewJeans” on stage and the logo disappeared. On February 7, 2025, the members announced on social media that they would use a new group name, NJZ. ADOR issued a statement requesting that media reports use the official team name, NewJeans. The group endured an unprecedented hiatus while under contract restrictions.

On March 7, 2025, all five members appeared in court in black suits, despite no attendance obligation, emphasizing that they remained five members and that trust had broken, making a return to ADOR impossible. They described harassment and discrimination in detail, reinforcing their stance against rejoining ADOR.

On March 21, the court granted ADOR’s request for an activity ban. NewJeans performed a new song, Pit Stop, in Hong Kong before announcing a pause in all activities. In the same period, interviews with international media discussed the ruling, provoking controversy over the situation and the emphasis on industry change.

On May 30, the court granted indirect coercive measures, stating that without permission, each member could owe ADOR up to 1 billion won for performances. After the injunctive, NJZ activities were deemed a violation of the injunction.

On November 12, ADOR announced the return of Haerin and Hye-in. Later the same day, Daniel, Hanni, and Minji issued individual statements expressing their intent to return, and all five members pledged to go back to ADOR. ADOR stated it would verify the details of the three members’ intentions. After a protracted, 14-month dispute, NewJeans chose to return to ADOR, though the path forward will likely differ from before. The outcomes and future developments remain to be seen.