Two members of the famed K-pop act NewJeans, Hyein and Haerin, will return to their music agency Ador, the firm has announced, in a step that has prompted supporters to question whether the Korean pop band will now part ways.
NewJeans has been locked in a legal battle with Ador, since the five-member group announced the previous year that they were leaving the label due to mistreatment and control. Ador rejected these allegations.
Last month, a court in South Korea ruled that NewJeans's agreement with Ador – which extends to 2029 – remains valid. NewJeans said it would appeal this ruling.
This conflict has rocked the K-pop industry, where music agencies usually wield tight authority over their artists.
Ador is a subsidiary label of Hybe, the nation's largest music label behind chart-topping acts such as BTS.
In a statement via social media, Ador wrote that Hyein and Haerin had decided to "honor the court's latest ruling" after "thoughtful consideration with their families and thorough discussions with ADOR".
"We request the warm support from the supporters and politely request you to refrain from engaging in unfounded speculation about the members," the message read.
Plans for the remaining trio – Hanni, Danielle and Minji – are uncertain.
NewJeans's attorney declined to comment when reached out to.
Established in July 2022, NewJeans, whose members are aged from 17 to 21, had a dramatic fallout with their label in 2024.
It was triggered by the disputed removal of Ador CEO Min Hee-jin, who had also been NewJeans's guide.
NewJeans then accused Ador of "poor handling" and "deliberate miscommunications and manipulation", and presented several demands including the return of Min.
When these requests were not met, the five members announced they were exiting Ador, which in turn initiated a legal case to stop them from departing.
NewJeans' argument was finally dismissed by the court, in a decision issued two weeks ago.
After the court's decision, NewJeans's legal counsel said that the trust between the group and their management had been "completely ruined" and that the act would persist in its battle.
While NewJeans had pledged to appeal the decision, legal experts widely believed that they would have very little chance of succeeding, considering how decisively the judge had supported Ador.
The cutoff for submitting the challenge is the close of Wednesday. It is unknown if NewJeans has filed anything yet.
Supporters have voiced concerns that the recent development would mean the conclusion of NewJeans in its current configuration.
"When just a pair out of the full group continue their contracts and the others conclude their ties in this way, that's basically a disbandment," a fan wrote on social media.
"It's too hard for an individual to battle a large corporation," commented another. "I just like the NewJeans members ... I will continue backing them."
Since its introduction, NewJeans had been poised for a rapid ascent, scoring early chart-toppers.
Their first single Attention led Korean charts while their hit song SuperShy appeared on multiple "best of the year" rankings at the close of last year, including those compiled by prominent music publications.
But their protracted legal battle has forced them into a break.
When NewJeans rebranded themselves NJZ and tried to release a new song, their plans were stopped by a legal order filed by Ador.
