“Deliberate miscommunications and manipulation”- NewJeans reveal the reason for emergency press conference, addressing ADOR’s response to ultimatum

On November 28, 2024, all five NewJeans members, Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, held an emergency press conference. They officially announced their decision to terminate their exclusive contracts with ADOR. This decision followed weeks of escalating tensions between the group, ADOR, and its parent company, HYBE.

The group cited alleged irreparable trust issues and unaddressed grievances, including the lack of reinstatement of former CEO Min Hee-jin and unanswered concerns, as key reasons for the contract termination. During the press conference, NewJeans clarified that their decision was final, with their contracts officially ending at midnight on November 29.

They emphasized that multiple attempts to resolve issues through formal and informal channels were allegedly met with unsatisfactory responses or outright silence from the agency.

The group expressed frustration over alleged media manipulation and public misinformation, which they stated had deeply affected their trust in ADOR. As per Pop Base, while addressing the media, Hanni said,

"We faced mistreatment not just towards us, but also including our staff. Countless pretentions and contradictions, deliberate miscommunications and manipulation regarding multiple areas."

The members then addressed the legal aspects of their decision. They explained that terminating their contracts does not require mutual agreement when there has been a breach of obligations, as they allege in this case.

---

More from the emergency press conference held by the NewJeans members

As per Korea JoongAng Daily, NewJeans also mentioned that they had issued a letter of certification to ADOR on November 13, outlining their demands and setting a 14-day deadline for compliance. When the agency allegedly failed to meet its conditions, including the reinstatement of Min Hee-jin, the group proceeded with termination.

The girl group members shared their perspectives on their decision to part ways with ADOR. Danielle emphasized her desire to move beyond the constraints of the agency and pledged to fulfill all previously agreed-upon commitments. She stated that promoting freely was her main priority.

The group firmly declared its intention to retain its name, describing its significance to the members. The members confirmed that they would actively reclaim the rights to use the name, ensuring it remains an integral part of their identity as they move forward. As per Korea JoongAng Daily, member Hyein said:

“We are not going to give up on our name, NewJeans, but we will still remain NewJeans at heart even if we can’t keep our name."

Moreover, they addressed potential legal implications, asserting that the group believes they are not liable for any penalties since they did not violate their exclusive contracts. The group explained that the circumstances arose due to alleged breaches by HYBE and ADOR.

In response, ADOR released a statement denying any breach of contract and asserting that the agreements with the group remain valid. The agency expressed regret over the press conference, claiming it was premature and conducted without adequate dialogue. ADOR reiterated its willingness to hold discussions with the members and its commitment to supporting their careers as global artists. The agency also added that the contract signed between them and the girl group is still valid.

As per Korea JoongAng Daily, a part of the statement read:

"ADOR never breached the contract, and just because [the members of NewJeans] argue that trust has been broken, it does not mean that the contracts can be terminated."

It also mentioned:

"Even now, we hope to sit down for an honest talk.ADOR will continue to support NewJeans, our artists, and help them grow to become global artists."

The dispute has drawn significant public attention, with fans and industry insiders closely watching how the situation will unfold. While the group’s departure from ADOR marks the end of one chapter, their statement suggests that NewJeans is ready to move forward independently.