NewJeans Holds Press Conference to Announce Contract Termination

On November 28, 2024, the K-pop group NewJeans held an urgent press conference in Seoul to announce their decision to terminate their exclusive contract with Ador. Despite some advisors urging the members to reconsider, the group was determined to express their stance publicly, reflecting their confidence in the situation.

The press conference was organized with a level of secrecy reminiscent of a covert operation. The members requested a simple setup: five chairs for each of them and a commitment from Ador to keep the details confidential.

On the morning of the conference, representatives scrambled to find a suitable venue, finally securing a location just hours before the event. This urgency underscored NewJeans' strong resolve to part ways with the agency.

During the conference, the members announced that as of midnight on November 29, they would officially end their contract with Ador. Minji expressed frustration over the agency's lack of genuine response to their requests regarding contract violations, stating, "We received a half-hearted statement that did not address any of our concerns. We are exhausted by their insincere attitude and feel there is no need to pursue a temporary injunction to suspend the contract. We hope to work positively with CEO Min Hee-jin in the future."

Hae-rin added, "We have not violated our contract and believe there is no reason for us to pay any penalties. In fact, we think the responsibility lies with Ador and HYBE for breaching the contract."

Hyein concluded, "While we may not be able to use the name NewJeans against our will, we have no intention of giving it up."