NewJeans Confirms Ador Departure Following Public Dispute

It's official: Two weeks after its firmly worded ultimatum, rising K-pop girl group NewJeans has moved to exit Ador.

Like with other developments in the months-long saga at hand, this twist entered the media spotlight in reports from regional outlets. We've covered the multifaceted matter – centering on a dispute between former Ador head Min Hee-Jin and Hybe – throughout 2024.

In short, Min allegedly voiced concerns about perceived image overlap between NewJeans and Belift Lab's IllitHybe said the individual had plotted to take over Ador, a decidedly public confrontation ensued, multiple legal actions followed, and Min formally departed Ador earlier in November.

Despite her exit, the exec vowed to stay active in K-pop and to seek relief for Hybe's alleged contractual violations. Meanwhile, NewJeans members, having long worked with Min, upped the ante by demanding that Hybe reinstate the higher-up.

Admittedly, at the time of the ultimatum – laid out in a certified letter and featuring a two-week response deadline to boot – evidence strongly suggested that the reinstatement ship had sailed. Now, courtesy of NewJeans' making good on the threat to leave Ador, we know for certain that was the case.

Although the act is still posting on social media (including about a newly announced Dior sponsorship deal), it's unilaterally nixed the Ador pact, the group said in more words during a press conference.

Per the Korea Heraldmembers were underwhelmed with Hybe's response to their demands (pertaining to, besides Min's reinstatement, an effort to address an exec's alleged poor treatment of a NewJeans member) and its alleged failure to “protect” NewJeans.

Remaining part of the company, the members proceeded, would therefore prove “a waste of time” and cause more “mental stress” or “mental anguish,” according to this and other translations. NewJeans also touched on Ador/Hybe's not-so-surprising opposition to the maneuver, but time will reveal the K-pop giant's exact response.

already Adore in a statement claimed NewJeans had no grounds to ax the contract, which allegedly runs into 2029. The Hybe subsidiary further called for a meeting to reach some sort of solution; NewJeans has seemingly opted against a sit down thus far, and members made clear during the conference that they'd be traveling to Japan at once to fulfill professional obligations.

Additionally, NewJeans has expressed interest in once again working with Min, while Ador says it intends to bring on new producers to take the individual's place. Moreover, the group's members may begin performing under a different name.

Shifting back to the present, one needn't look far on social media to find Hybe criticism penned by diehard fans. Others are still backing Hybe in the battle, which could have serious effects on K-pop contracts moving forward.

Stated bluntly, various elements of these lengthy contracts are allegedly less than ideal – SM Entertainment, for instance, has also grappled with pushback from artists – and NewJeans' stance could inspire different acts to make similar moves.

In any event, a commercially prominent K-pop group has made it clear that it no longer wishes to work with Ador and Hybe, which isn't exactly positive from a revenue perspective or in terms of future talent-development initiatives.

Of course, investors know as much; Hybe stock (KRX: 352820) suffered a double-digit value falloff after the NewJeans press conference. Shares subsequently rebounded from $136/₩190,000 apiece to about $140/₩195,000, but the latter still marks an 11% slip on the week and an over 19% decrease from the top of 2024.