Three members’ unilateral comeback and Min Hee-jin’s remarks intensify dispute over the group’s future and the role of its leadership

The K-pop world was unsettled when NewJeans announced they would return to their agency HYBE/ADOR, with three members reportedly declaring their comeback unilaterally without consulting the company, triggering fresh controversy. ADOR said it would verify the trio’s intentions and planned to hold a meeting.

NewJeans had previously advanced arguments in court that were not recognized, and the lack of clear contrition has left it unclear what problems might surface next. The agency has taken a cautious approach as it moves forward.

Min Hee-jin, the former ADOR CEO, was quoted saying, “Now that they have returned, these five should be treated as valuable,” and, “the core is aimed at me, but please don’t involve the children in the process. The children must be protected and not used.”

Critics note that it was Min Hee-jin who repeatedly referenced NewJeans at the outset, prompting concern that artists could be dragged into a mud-slinging feud. ADOR has largely restrained its response toward NewJeans, focusing on the contract’s validity, while Min’s public remarks have been read as casting NewJeans’ parents into the spotlight.

NewJeans fans have shown mixed reactions; some supported Min early on and even welcomed the members’ involvement, but later they cheered the unilateral contract termination. The fandom’s most recent statements claimed significance over the past year, and some demanded producers or other contributions from ADOR, suggesting a frame that ADOR is using NewJeans for its own ends.

Observers warn that if the three members return without genuine remorse and resume public disclosures, a second “mud-slinging” phase could unfold, and ADOR remains cautious. The portrayal of Min as the guardian of children’s protection has drawn criticism as the dispute persists.

Ultimately, a sober reassessment and genuine repentance from NewJeans’ camp could lay the groundwork for restoring order in the K-pop landscape.