A year after the exclusive contract dispute, the NewJeans members, who have returned to their agency, Adore, and Adore itself now face another reputational risk due to some fans’ misguided devotion. Some fans have accused Adore of infringing on the members’ dignity and filed formal complaints with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which in turn requires the ministry to interview Adore and the NewJeans members to verify the facts. In addition, some fans forwarded the complaints to members of the National Assembly’s Culture and Tourism Committee, raising concerns that a repeat of last year’s parliamentary audit—where HYBE executives and NewJeans member Hani were mocked—could damage the image of both the company and the artists.

According to the ministry and Adore, a large number of complaint faxes arrived at the minister’s office from the 16th to the 17th. The details varied, but common themes included claims that Adore, as the agency responsible for protecting its artists, is harassing the NewJeans members; that Adore is colluding with the press to foment negative public opinion; and that it is creating an atmosphere that favors one side (Haerin and Hyerin), thereby sowing discord among the members.

In short, the complaints request the ministry to conduct an audit into Adore for allegedly harassing the NewJeans members. A ministry official said that the minister’s office had received numerous fax complaints, and similar complaints had been filed via the Citizen’s Portal; because these are formal complaints, the ministry plans to conduct internal reviews and interview involved parties to verify the facts. He added that a precise interview schedule has not yet been set, and that it must be determined whether it is possible to obtain input from both Adore and all NewJeans members.

The ministry plans to forward the matter to Adore soon to coordinate schedules. Since these are formal complaints, the ministry will conduct investigations of Adore and the NewJeans members in order to inform the complainants of the results. The issue is that the contract dispute had only recently begun to settle, with Adore and the NewJeans members reconciling, and this ministry investigation could jeopardize the renewed rapport. An industry source warned that although reconciliation had begun, some fans have filed complaints with unfounded claims, raising concerns that conflicts between Adore and the NewJeans members could flare up again; he urged fans to consider what constitutes actions that support the artists they love and act accordingly.

It is also problematic that the contents of the complaints were forwarded to members of the National Assembly’s Culture and Tourism Committee. Regardless of whether the complaints are true, exposing artists who deserve protection could damage their image and invite ridicule. Moreover, it is ironic that the party themselves did not file the complaints and that third-party claims are prompting government probes. This has led to questions about whether the complaints serve a purpose beyond mere fan sentiment.

An industry insider noted that two members (Haerin and Hyerin) reportedly agreed to return in agreement with Adore, while the other three (Minji, Hani, Daniel) signaled their return unilaterally through legal representatives, raising suspicions that the move was designed to gain a favorable position in negotiations. Recently, a court ruled in Adore’s favor in the “confirmation of the exclusive contract’s validity” suit against the NewJeans members, finding the contract valid. After the ruling, the members said they would appeal immediately, but Adore announced that Haerin and Hyerin decided to respect the court’s ruling and comply with the exclusive contract after consulting with their families; on the same day, Minji, Hani, and Daniel’s camps also conveyed their intent to return via legal representatives, but Adore said they were still verifying the truth and had not made it official. All five members did not file notices of appeal by the deadline, so the first-instance ruling stands, and they remain under Adore until 2029.