[talk] [2026 Latest] Did NewJeans really disband? The truth behind the hiatus, contract termination controversy, Daniel's departure, and the 500 billion won penalty

Did NewJeans really disband? We'll take a deep dive into the truth, including the reasons for their hiatus, the conflict between HYBE and ADOR, the contract termination issue, the rumored 500 billion won penalty, and the future of the four-member group after Daniel's departure.

 

 

table of contents   1. Did New Jeans really break up? What's their official status now? 2. The root cause of the conflict between HYBE and ADOR 3. The impact of Min Hee-jin's dismissal on NewJeans 4. How the workplace bullying allegations and the national audit developed 5. Why is it called a "hiatus" rather than a "disbandment"? 6. Independent activities under the name of NJZ and the court's provisional injunction 7. Is the 500 billion won penalty realistic? 8. Daniel leaves the band and New Jeans restructures into a four-piece band 9. Q&A | Questions about NewJeans' disbandment and hiatus 10. Summary | What the NewJeans scandal has left behind in the K-pop industry

 

1. Has New Jeans Disbanded? What's their official status now?

 

First and most importantly, New Jeans has not disbanded. However, activities as a complete five-member group have ended. Due to the court's decision, the members are no longer free to pursue entertainment activities, and are effectively on hiatus. For this reason, the agency, media, and fans are using the term "hiatus," but this is not the choice the members themselves wanted.

 

In other words, NewJeans is currently in an extremely unusual position in K-pop history: a group that has not disbanded but is unable to perform.

 

 

 

 

2. Structural collapse caused by the conflict between HYBE and ADOR

 

The root cause of this controversy lies in a management conflict between parent company HYBE and ADOR, NewJeans' label. HYBE has stated that it operates a "multi-label system" and respects the independence of each label. However, in reality, management rights and final decision-making authority remain concentrated in the parent company, and ADOR's creative direction has gradually been restricted.

 

NewJeans was a unique success model within HYBE, and its large presence ended up creating conflict.

 

 

 

 

3. What Min Hee-jin's dismissal meant

 

In April 2024, Min Hee-jin, the CEO of ADOR and creator of the NewJeans worldview, will be dismissed.

This was not just a personnel change. To the members, Min Heejin was more than just a producer; she was the very identity of the group.

 

Her dismissal was seen as a denial of the "core" of the NewJeans brand, and the members reacted with unanimous opposition.

 

 

 

 

4. Unprecedented developments: workplace bullying and a national audit

Hani's accusations eventually lead to the problem developing into a social issue known as "workplace bullying."
The allegations were even brought to a parliamentary audit, resulting in the unprecedented situation of a K-pop idol testifying in the National Assembly.

 

However, the Ministry of Employment and Labor ultimately ruled that idols are not workers under the Labor Standards Act. This decision went beyond NewJeans' personal issues and highlighted the structural flaws in the K-pop industry as a whole.

 

 

 

 

5. Why "Suspension of Activities" and Not "Disbandment"

In November 2024, NewJeans will unilaterally notify ADOR of its intention to terminate the exclusive contract.
However, the court did not recognize the legitimacy of the termination of the contract, ruling that "it cannot be said that the relationship of trust had completely broken down."

As a result, NewJeans

Contractually bound to the agency
The activity is not permitted

This legal situation is the main reason why the group is described as "on hiatus" rather than "disbanded."

 

 

 

 

6. Activities under the name of NJZ and court injunctions

NewJeans temporarily attempted to operate independently under the name "NJZ," but upon ADOR's request, the court issued a temporary injunction banning them from engaging in entertainment activities.

 

This order forced NewJeans to cease virtually all performance activities, both official and unofficial.

 

 

 

 

7. Is the 500 billion won penalty realistic?

The reported 500 billion won penalty has not been officially announced, but it cannot be said to be a complete exaggeration.

 

K-pop exclusive contracts are calculated by taking into account investments made from the trainee period, future profits from global success, and brand value, so there is a good chance that the penalty could be in the tens or hundreds of billions of won.

 

 

 

 

8. Daniel's departure and the reality of the reorganization into a four-member band

 

At the end of 2025, ADOR officially announced the termination of their contract with Daniel.
This effectively moves NewJeans down to a four-person team.

 

Current Member Status

member	situation
Minji	Under discussion
Honey	ADOR Return
Helin	ADOR Return
Hein	ADOR Return
Daniel	Termination of contract/withdrawal

 

It is believed that the group will be able to restart with a four-member team, but the major challenge of rebuilding the brand remains.

 

 

 

 

9. Q&A | Frequently asked questions about the NewJeans breakup scandal

Q1. Has NewJeans completely disbanded?

No. There has been no official announcement of their disbandment, and they are currently on hiatus due to legal restrictions.

 

 

Q2. Why do you say "on hiatus"?

This is because the court has recognized the validity of the exclusive contract, meaning that the artist is no longer able to act freely.

 

 

Q3. Is there a possibility that Daniel will return to NewJeans in the future?

With the contract termination and damages claims ongoing, this is extremely difficult in practice.

 

 

Q4. Will NewJeans resume activities as a four-piece band?

It's a possibility, but it's not expected to be the same as before.

 

 

 

 

10. Summary | The NewJeans issue poses questions for K-POP

 

New Jeans is not disbanding.
But the reality is that the NewJeans of old no longer exists.

 

This series of incidents
It clarified fundamental issues in the K-pop industry, such as artists' rights, the weight of exclusive contracts, and the power balance between agencies and individuals.

 

Regardless of what the future holds for NewJeans, this event will long be remembered as a watershed moment in K-pop history.

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