On April 8, 2025, the South Korean media outlet New Daily reported an important update regarding the ongoing legal battle involving NewJeans and their management company, ADOR. Contrary to earlier assumptions that Haerin’s mother was the parent opposing the contract termination, it has now been revealed that it is actually Hyein’s father who is taking that stance.
This revelation followed widespread speculation that arose after Chosun Ilbo published a report on April 4. The article suggested that disagreements among the guardians of the underage members of NewJeans were complicating the legal maneuvering. The matter was highlighted in a court session on April 3, 2025, held at the Seoul Central District Court.
During the hearings, the judge inquired whether the parents of the underage group members had authorized the lawsuit, casting doubt particularly on Haerin’s family’s involvement. This led many to speculate that Haerin’s mother might be the one against the legal action.
Documents from a previous court proceeding on March 7, 2025, indicated issues regarding legal representation. The court had identified discrepancies in the guardianship documentation, hinting at an internal conflict regarding representation rights among family members.
Named “Defendant 4″in the legal papers, only Haerin’s father was listed as her legal representative. This prompted online speculation that her mother was opposed to the legal challenges being mounted against ADOR. However, New Daily’s thorough investigation has clarified this misunderstanding.
The outlet discovered that Hyein’s father, publicly referred to as Mr. A, is the parent opposed to the contract termination. In November 2024, both Hyein’s parents submitted a formal notice of exit to ADOR, yet Mr. A later revised his position, expressing disagreement with the legal actions being pursued.
This change of heart resulted in a civil court case between Hyein’s parents regarding who should legally represent their daughter. The conflict concluded on March 14, 2025, when the judge granted full parental authority to Hyein’s mother, Ms. B. She is now designated as Hyein’s sole legal spokesperson in this case.
NewJeans (NJZ) on Hiatus Amid Legal Struggles
In March 2025, NewJeans announced a pause on all activities due to the legal dispute with ADOR. A Seoul court ruled in favor of ADOR, preventing the five members from engaging in any solo projects without the company’s permission, thereby reinforcing the validity of their contracts signed earlier with the label, which is a subsidiary of HYBE.
This ruling followed a series of events that unfolded at the end of 2024 when the members—Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein—collectively decided to terminate their contracts with ADOR, accusing the agency of unfair treatment and misconduct. ADOR countered these allegations, claiming the contracts remained legally binding and highlighting its substantial investment in the group.
According to ADOR, each member has reportedly received around 5 billion KRW as part of their contracts. Following the group’s notice for contract termination, ADOR escalated the dispute to court, seeking to halt any independent promotions by the members.
Nevertheless, NewJeans, rebranded as NJZ, surprised fans with an impromptu live performance at ComplexCon in Hong Kong on March 23, 2025. During this event, they unveiled a new track titled “Pit Stop”before announcing their hiatus on the same day.
With the court’s decision favoring ADOR, uncertainties linger over NewJeans’ future endeavors, leaving fans and followers eager for clarity in the months ahead.