K-pop group NewJeans have announced that they will return to record label Ador following a prolonged legal dispute. In a statement to Pitchfork, Ador—an imprint of Hybe—said that members Hyein and Haerin had “decided to respect the court’s latest ruling and adhere to their exclusive contract.” The group’s other members, Hanni, Danielle, and Minji, subsequently confirmed that they would be returning to the label as well, BBC News reports.
Hanni, Danielle, and Minji shared that their decision was made “after careful discussion” and “was relayed late as one member is currently in Antarctica, but as [Ador] is not responding at the moment, we are inevitably announcing this through a separate statement.” They added, “We will continue greeting you with sincere music and performances.”
NewJeans first announced their intention to split from Ador last year, after the dismissal of label CEO and the group’s mentor, Min Hee-Jin. Its members then accused the label of mistreatment, with singer Hanni alleging multiple instances of workplace harassment. NewJeans also attempted to rebrand to NJZ in an effort to work around their exclusivity deal with Ador; however, a Seoul court ruled that the group had failed to prove significant negligence on the part of the label.
At a concert last March, NewJeans announced that they would be indefinitely pausing all band activities. In June, a South Korean high court ruled—in a decision that was upheld by a Seoul district court last month—that the group would have to honor their seven-year contract with Ador, which extends through 2029. At the time, a legal representative for NewJeans told Rolling Stone that the group planned to appeal October’s ruling.
Ador’s statement to Pitchfork continued, “[Ador] is committed to providing its full support to [Haerin] and [Hyein] to ensure the seamless continuation of their artistic endeavors. We request the warm support from the fans and respectfully urge you to avoid engaging in unfounded speculation regarding the members.”
Read about NewJeans’ “Super Shy” at No. 13 on “The 100 Best Songs of the 2020s So Far.”