NewJeans spent nearly two years locked in a very public contract dispute with their agency ADOR before signaling a comeback in July 2026, when four of the group's five original members appeared together for the first time in over a year in a surprise "2026 Summer of NewJeans" video series, timed to the group's fourth debut anniversary. The reunion clip doesn't confirm a finished comeback, but it marks the clearest sign yet that a group once counted among K-pop's biggest global acts is easing back toward activity after one of the industry's most closely watched label disputes in years.
How the Dispute Started
The conflict traces back to the abrupt departure of Min Hee-jin, ADOR's founding CEO and NewJeans' original producer, amid a broader dispute with parent company HYBE. In November 2024, all five members held a press conference announcing they were terminating their exclusive contract with ADOR, alleging mistreatment, deliberate miscommunication, and workplace harassment, and stating the label had failed to protect them and had retaliated against Min. ADOR disputed the allegations and denied the contract had been validly terminated. The members briefly rebranded as NJZ and attempted to pursue independent activities, appearing at events like Tokyo's Best Artist 2024 and a solo Hong Kong performance at ComplexCon.
The Court Sides With ADOR
ADOR sought and won an injunction restricting the members' ability to conduct independent entertainment activities while the underlying contract dispute worked through the courts, and both the injunction proceeding and the subsequent main lawsuit ultimately ruled in ADOR's favor, upholding the validity of the original contract. Following that Hong Kong show, the group announced a full pause on activities, calling it possibly their "last performance for a little while." NewJeans' legal team said the members would respect the court's decision but maintained that trust with ADOR had broken down beyond repair, and confirmed plans to appeal.
A Gradual, Member-by-Member Return
Rather than a single unified announcement, the group's return to ADOR unfolded member by member over roughly a year. Haerin and Hyein returned to the label first in November 2025, followed by Hanni in December. Minji's status remained the most uncertain of the five for months, with ADOR describing negotiations as ongoing and "generally positive" without confirming a firm return. Former member Danielle took a different path entirely, terminating her ADOR contract and becoming the subject of a separate 43.1 billion won damages lawsuit filed by the label against her, a family member, and Min Hee-jin, who now runs her own agency, OK Records. That litigation remains ongoing and unresolved.
The July 2026 Signal
On July 22, 2026 — exactly four years after NewJeans' debut single "Attention" dropped — ADOR published the "2026 Summer of NewJeans" video series without prior announcement, featuring Minji, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein, each in individual clips before a final segment reuniting all four on camera together for the first time in about 16 months. ADOR described the release as anniversary content rather than a confirmed comeback, stating that specific activity plans would be announced only once discussions with the members were fully finalized. Coverage of the release broadly interpreted it as the clearest positive signal yet that the four-member group intends to resume promotional activity, even without an official comeback date attached.
NewJeans-ADOR Dispute Timeline
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| November 2024 | All five members announce contract termination with ADOR |
| Early-Mid 2025 | Members rebrand as NJZ; court grants ADOR's injunction request |
| March 2025 | Hong Kong ComplexCon show; group announces full activity pause |
| November–December 2025 | Haerin, Hyein, and Hanni individually return to ADOR |
| July 22, 2026 | Four-member reunion video released on 4th debut anniversary |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did NewJeans leave ADOR?
The group cited mistreatment, workplace harassment, and the label's failure to protect them following the departure of original producer Min Hee-jin, though ADOR disputed these allegations.
Did the courts side with NewJeans or ADOR?
Korean courts ruled in ADOR's favor in both the injunction proceeding and the main lawsuit, upholding the validity of the original contract.
Is NewJeans back together now?
Four of the five original members — Minji, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein — have returned to ADOR, though as of the July 2026 reunion video, no official comeback activities had been formally announced.
What happened to former member Danielle?
Danielle did not return to ADOR and is currently named in a separate damages lawsuit filed by the label, which remains ongoing.
What was the "2026 Summer of NewJeans" video?
It's a surprise video series released on the group's fourth debut anniversary, described by ADOR as anniversary content rather than a confirmed comeback announcement.
This is an active, evolving situation — check official ADOR and NewJeans channels for the latest confirmed updates.