For months, the future of K-pop sensation NewJeans hung in the balance, with fans and industry insiders alike anxiously watching the twists and turns of a contract dispute that has now reached a dramatic new chapter. On December 29, 2025, ADOR, the HYBE subsidiary that manages NewJeans, announced the termination of member Danielle’s exclusive contract—a move that has shattered hopes for a full-group comeback and sent shockwaves through the global K-pop community.
This decision, confirmed in statements by ADOR and reported by multiple news outlets including Korea JoongAng Daily and Herald Corp, comes after a year-long saga of legal wrangling, shifting alliances, and public appeals. The agency has also revealed plans to take legal action against a member of Danielle’s family and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, whom it accuses of playing a central role in the conflict and the delayed return of members to the agency.
"We decided that it would be difficult for Danielle to continue both as a member of NewJeans and an artist at ADOR, and we have notified her that the contract has been terminated," the agency stated in a press release, as quoted by Korea JoongAng Daily. ADOR further explained, “We will take legal measures against a member of Danielle’s family and former CEO Min Hee-jin, who holds grave responsibility not only in our conflict between NewJeans, but also in the members' delayed return to the agency.”
The company pointed to "continuous and twisted information" fed to the members over an extended period as the core reason for the conflict. ADOR maintains that misunderstandings and distorted narratives, allegedly originating from outside influences, fueled misperceptions and escalated tensions within the group. The agency has vowed to clarify the full details of the dispute in a separate event, with the date and method to be announced later.
Danielle’s removal is the latest and most decisive turn in a saga that began in 2024, when Min Hee-jin was dismissed as ADOR’s CEO at the urging of parent company HYBE. Min’s departure in November 2024 triggered a crisis of trust, prompting all five NewJeans members—Danielle, Hanni, Minji, Haerin, and Hyein—to publicly declare their exclusive contracts with ADOR null and void. They cited alleged mismanagement and a breakdown of trust, and even began independent activities under the name “NJZ,” signaling their intent to leave the label altogether, according to India Times.
ADOR responded by filing a lawsuit seeking judicial confirmation of the contracts’ validity and an injunction to block independent activities by the members. The legal battle culminated on October 30, 2025, when the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of ADOR, affirming that the contracts were legally binding and that the company retained exclusive management rights over the group until 2029. This court decision effectively forced the members to halt independent promotions and return to ADOR’s authority.
Following the court’s ruling, reconciliation efforts began in earnest. Haerin and Hyein were the first to publicly announce their return to ADOR, expressing their intention to respect the court’s decision and continue under their exclusive contracts. Shortly after, Hanni, Minji, and Danielle also issued statements indicating their willingness to return, though they cited delays in communication, with one member overseas at the time.
However, optimism for a full-group reunion was short-lived. As of December 29, ADOR confirmed that Hanni had agreed to resume activities under the agency following in-depth discussions, and Minji remained in ongoing talks with the company. Haerin and Hyein had already returned to the fold. But for Danielle, the agency determined that “irreparable damage to trust” and ongoing conflict stemming from the legal dispute made her continued participation impossible, as reported by Herald Corp.
The decision to terminate Danielle’s contract has sparked a fierce backlash from NewJeans’ passionate fanbase, known as Tokkis. Social media erupted with emotional messages, with many fans expressing shock, anger, and sadness at the loss of a member considered essential to the group’s chemistry. One fan wrote, “I know this is just Twitter, and it’s never that deep, but I’m actually crying about Danielle. I know I don’t know her, and she doesn’t know me, but her energy in NewJeans is just so crucial, like every other member. I really love her so much. So I’m sorry if I get in my feelings about her.” Others accused HYBE and ADOR of “separating a family,” underscoring the deep bond the members shared.
ADOR’s decision has also reignited debate about the power dynamics between K-pop agencies and their artists, especially in the wake of high-profile disputes elsewhere in the industry. The agency’s assertion that “members had been fed continuous and twisted information about the company over an extended period of time” raises questions about the role of outside parties—namely Danielle’s family and former CEO Min Hee-jin—in shaping the conflict. ADOR has made it clear that it intends to pursue legal accountability against both, blaming them for triggering the dispute and impeding the group’s return.
With Danielle’s exit, the future of NewJeans remains uncertain. While Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein are confirmed to continue activities under ADOR, and Minji’s return appears likely but not guaranteed, the group’s dynamic has been fundamentally altered. There has been no official word on whether ADOR plans to introduce a new member or proceed as a four-piece. For fans, the loss of Danielle—a Korean-Australian member whose unique energy and international appeal helped propel NewJeans to stardom—marks a poignant end to the hope of seeing the original lineup reunited.
Despite the turmoil, ADOR has emphasized its commitment to restoring trust with fans and the public. “We agreed that we would need to take the chance to sort out all misunderstandings, even if it takes a long time, in order to fully restore the love from the fans and the public,” the agency stated. Both ADOR and the remaining members appear to recognize that only full transparency and time can heal the rift that has divided the group and its supporters.
As the dust settles, NewJeans’ story stands as a stark reminder of the complexities—and human costs—behind the glitz and glamour of K-pop. The coming months will reveal whether the group can chart a new course, mend fractured relationships, and recapture the spark that made them one of the genre’s brightest stars.
