NewJeans Returns to ADOR After Tumultuous Year-Long Battle

After a year-long dispute, K-pop sensation NewJeans has decided to return to their agency, ADOR.

The group, initially comprised of five members who looked up to former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin like a 'mother bird,' declared their intention to terminate their exclusive contracts last November. They cited a 'breakdown of trust' as the primary reason, particularly following Min's dismissal.

During their independence bid, NewJeans launched a new SNS account under the name 'jeanzforfree,' even adopting a new group name, 'NJZ,' and premiered a new song, 'Pit Stop.'

ADOR, however, pursued legal action. A court injunction prohibited the members from pursuing independent activities without ADOR's consent, imposing a penalty of 1 billion won per violation.

In the subsequent lawsuit, the court ruled in favor of ADOR, stating that 'Min's dismissal alone is not sufficient grounds to breach the exclusive contract.' While the members initially intended to appeal, they ultimately submitted their decision to return to ADOR through their legal representatives just before the appeal deadline.

Having navigated a challenging year, NewJeans is now set to embark on a new chapter with ADOR. Their future endeavors are highly anticipated by fans worldwide.

Fans have reacted with a mix of relief and empathy, commenting, "They're finally back," "Must have been incredibly difficult for them this past year," and "Hoping for only good things from now on."