HYBE’s rising girl group NewJeans plans to leave its subsidiary agency ADOR, marking another disruption in South Korea’s entertainment industry. The five-member ensemble announced their departure during a late-night press conference, signaling support for their former creative director Min Hee-jin, who recently left ADOR amid a management dispute with the parent company.
The announcement follows months of tension between HYBE and ADOR executives, which has captured public attention through a series of accusations and contentious audits. The group’s members indicated they would pursue their artistic vision independently, though they may lose rights to the NewJeans name after terminating their contract.
Despite their meteoric rise in the K-pop scene, the band faces uncertainty about their ability to release new music under their current brand. Their decision to align with Min, their former creative director, suggests a prioritization of artistic direction over corporate stability.
The move adds to the growing list of high-profile departures and disputes within South Korea’s tightly controlled entertainment industry, where conflicts between creative vision and corporate management often spill into public view. For NewJeans’ devoted fanbase, known as Bunnies, the group’s members expressed hope for new music releases in 2024, though the timeline and format remain unclear.
