Is NewJeans Breaking Up: What Fans Need to Know

Concerns are growing among fans regarding the future of the popular K-pop group NewJeans, with many speculating that their disbandment may be imminent.

Earlier this year, the girl group found themselves caught in a major conflict with their management agency, ADOR, and parent company, HYBE. This dispute ignited when HYBE initiated an audit against Min Hee Jin, the former CEO of ADOR, alleging she had taken monopolistic control over the agency. Min Hee Jin rebuffed these allegations, instead accusing HYBE of undermining NewJeans’ career. As a result of the ongoing tensions, Min Hee Jin was ousted and replaced by Kim Yoo Jung.

Despite the management shake-up, NewJeans continues to release music and engage with fans, expressing their strong support for Min Hee Jin while publicly criticizing the practices of HYBE and ADOR. The group—comprising Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein—are evidently reaching their breaking point.

The Question on Everyone’s Minds: Will NewJeans Disband?

While an official announcement regarding a potential disbandment has not been made, recent developments suggest that the possibility cannot be discounted. On November 13, it was reported that NewJeans had taken the significant step of issuing a legal notice to ADOR, indicating their intention to terminate their contract if certain violations are not addressed. This certificate of contents is typically utilized in legal disputes to inform a company of potential contract terminations or to claim damages.

My jaw is on the floor… how did the media even get ahold of this? pic.twitter.com/xpcDFWG0cz

— ۟ (@nwjns1st) November 13, 2024

The group articulated their dissatisfaction with ADOR’s management, stipulating that immediate action is necessary to rectify the violations outlined in their exclusive contract. Furthermore, they expressed their intent to pursue legal avenues concerning malicious comments aimed at their families.

Following the unsettling news, the group took to social media to calm their fanbase, affectionately referred to as “Bunnies.”They conveyed their love and gratitude to fans while highlighting their unity as artists. Given the college entrance exam season in South Korea, NewJeans encouraged fans to focus on their studies and remain resilient during this challenging period.

Even in their most difficult times, they still worry about the tokkis who are going to take the university exam because they don’t want them to do badly on their exams: (https://t.co/CxUiJihFV2

— ෆ Kumu ෆ (@haerinskumu) November 13, 2024

Thank you NewJeans for the reassurance? ???? pic.twitter.com/MWn3LA8Uky

— taly (@talytokki) November 13, 2024

Historical Tensions Between NewJeans and Management

This current turmoil is not an isolated incident; NewJeans has previously voiced concerns regarding ADOR’s management. During a surprise live stream in September, Hanni disclosed that she reported an incident of workplace bullying to her CEO, who dismissed her complaints due to a lack of proof. Haerin also mentioned that videos from their training days were leaked, further violating their privacy. They expressed apprehensions about their future, especially following ADOR’s ongoing legal issues with director Shin Woo Seok, who collaborated closely with NewJeans on their music videos.

At that time, the group called for the reinstatement of Min Hee Jin as CEO, but their pleas went unheard.

In a notable appearance in October, Hanni testified at the National Assembly, shedding light on workplace harassment. She spoke about how, amidst the strife between ADOR and HYBE, she encountered another group under the same label, where their manager allegedly instructed the members to ignore her. This other group was identified as ILLIT.

Hanni’s brave testimony aims to prevent future bullying incidents within the industry. She recounted being told by Kim, the ADOR CEO, that there was no evidence to support her claims, despite the existence of CCTV footage that was supposedly deleted. Although Kim mentioned she believed Hanni, the lack of evidence remained a hurdle.

Additionally, Hanni highlighted the toxic work environment that NewJeans has faced under HYBE’s management, mentioning that staff used the app Blind to disparage the girl group. She also pointed out that HYBE’s public relations team attempted to downplay their successful debut in Japan.

As of now, NewJeans remains under the ADOR and HYBE banner, and no formal disbandment has occurred. However, the circumstances suggest that their future may be uncertain.

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