NewJeans, one of the biggest K-pop groups in the world, has been caught in a messy fight with their music company for over a year. The drama started as a disagreement between the group's leader, Min Hee-jin, and their parent company HYBE, but it quickly became something much bigger that affected the entire group.
If you've been confused about what actually happened and why it matters, you're not alone. This situation grabbed headlines because it showed how complicated the K-pop industry can be. It wasn't just about money or contracts—it was about trust, power, and what happens when workers and bosses completely stop getting along.
Read on to understand the full timeline of events that led to where NewJeans stands today.
April 22, 2024: HYBE launched a surprise audit against ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin. They accused her of planning to take ADOR independent and stealing management rights, but Min claimed she was being punished for complaining that another HYBE group, ILLIT, copied NewJeans' style.
April 25, 2024: Min Hee-jin held a famous, emotional press conference where she denied all claims of a takeover. She cried and used strong language, saying that HYBE had betrayed her and that she only cared about protecting NewJeans.
May 30, 2024: Min won the first round of the legal fight. A court granted an injunction that stopped HYBE from firing her as CEO during a shareholder meeting, allowing her to keep her job temporarily.
July 2024: As the fight between the company and Min Hee-jin got worse, member Danielle showed her strong support for her CEO. She penned a touching handwritten letter to Min, calling her "Mom" and a "Warrior." In the letter, she wrote, "My beloved CEO... there is no one like you in this world. You are our protector and our family."
August 27, 2024: HYBE successfully removed Min Hee-jin from the CEO position and appointed Kim Joo-young, a specialist in human resources, as the new head of ADOR. Min refused to accept the offer to stay on merely as a producer, calling the contract unfair.
September 11, 2024: The five NewJeans members opened a secret YouTube channel to hold a livestream. They demanded that HYBE reinstate Min Hee-jin as CEO by September 25, marking the first time the members publicly picked a side.
October 15, 2024: Member Hanni testified alone at the National Assembly regarding workplace bullying. She tearfully claimed that a manager from another HYBE group told their artists to "ignore" her, which became a major issue about idol treatment.
October 29, 2024: The deadline passed, and the request to reinstate Min as CEO was officially rejected by the ADOR board. This rejection set the stage for the group to take drastic legal action.
November 13, 2024: NewJeans sent a "Certification of Contents" to ADOR. This is a formal legal warning stating that if the agency did not fix specific breaches of contract within 14 days, the group would leave.
November 28, 2024: The group held an emergency press conference declaring their contracts terminated. They argued that ADOR had broken the basic trust required to work together, but ADOR immediately responded that the contract was still valid.
January 2025: It was revealed that the members had applied for trademark rights to a new name, "NJZ." They planned to restart their careers independently under this new brand to avoid copyright issues with the name "NewJeans."
March 2025: The Seoul Central District Court issued an injunction blocking the group's independent activities. The judge ruled they could not promote as "NJZ" or sign with third parties until the main lawsuit regarding their contract validity was resolved.
March 21–23, 2025: NJZ made their debut performance under the new name at ComplexCon Hong Kong, a major music and fashion festival. Each member performed individual covers of classic 1990s and 2000s R&B songs—Danielle sang TLC's "No Scrubs," Minji performed Upsahl's "Smile for the Camera," Haerin covered "Dontcha" by The Internet, Hyein sang SWV's "Use Your Heart," and Hanni performed "My Boo" by Ghost Town DJs.
At the same concert, NJZ debuted a brand-new song called "Pit Stop" for the first time.
Following their ComplexCon performance, the Seoul Central District Court issued an injunction blocking NJZ from continuing its independent activities. The judge ruled they could not promote as "NJZ" or sign with third parties until the main lawsuit regarding their contract validity was resolved.
March 23, 2025 (Late Night): After performing "Pit Stop," the five members gathered on stage to make an emotional announcement. They told the crowd that they were taking a temporary hiatus to respect the court's decision.
October 30, 2025: The Seoul District Court delivered the final ruling on the main lawsuit. The judge decided that the exclusive contract between NewJeans and ADOR was valid and would remain in effect until 2029. The court explained that while the relationship between the members and the company was bad, "mistrust" is not a legal reason to cancel a binding contract.
November 11, 2025: Members Hyein and Haerin were the first to announce their return to the agency. They released statements saying they would respect the court's decision to avoid paying massive penalties for breaking the contract.
November 23, 2025: The remaining members—Minji, Hanni, and Danielle—agreed to return as well. The group officially reunited under ADOR management, ending their year-long attempt to become independent.
December 22, 2025: Danielle made the group's first major public appearance since the controversy ended. She participated in a charity event delivering coal briquettes with singer Sean. Photos showed her sweating and working hard, and she told people at the event, "I'm sweating, but I'm happy."
