On the afternoon of November 12, ADOR (under HYBE Group) announced: "NewJeans members Haerin and Hyein have expressed their intention to continue working with ADOR. After careful consideration with the family and discussions with the company, they decided to respect the court's ruling and commit to comply with the exclusive contract.
The company added, "We will do our best to help Haerin and Hyein continue their artistic activities smoothly. We also hope to receive warm support from fans and hope that everyone will limit making inaccurate speculations about the members.
By the evening of the same day, the remaining 3 members of NewJeans, Minji, Hanni and Danielle, also announced their return to ADOR.
They told the media: After careful consideration and discussion, we have decided to return to ADOR. Because a member is currently in the South, the communication of information is delayed, and because ADOR has not responded, we have to announce our position. In the coming time, we will continue to bring music and stage with all our sincerity.
In response, ADOR said that the company is confirming the intention to return to activities of 3 members Minji, Hanni and Danielle.
NewJeans' move comes two weeks after the group lost the lawsuit to ADOR, in a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract.
In the trial on October 30, the court concluded: "The exclusive contract between ADOR and NewJeans signed on April 21, 2022 is still valid" (until 2029). NewJeans must pay all costs related to the lawsuit.
The court rejected NewJeans' argument that ADOR had seriously violated its contractual obligations, and that the broken relationship of trust between ADOR and NewJeans was the reason for the exclusive contract to be invalid.
Previously, the court held two mediations for ADOR and NewJeans but failed, due to deep disagreements on views between the two sides. NewJeans emphasized that they will only return to ADOR if former CEO Min Hee Jin is reinstated.
After losing the lawsuit, 5 NewJeans members announced that they would appeal through legal representatives. But after about 2 weeks, they decided to return to ADOR.
Meanwhile, ADOR once said: "We have completed preparations for the release of NewJeans' studio album and are waiting for the members." The company is ready to continue supporting NewJeans' development activities when the members return.
Korean media also commented that NewJeans' return to ADOR company is inevitable, because the possibility of the group turning the situation around if they appeal is almost impossible.
