All NewJeans members declared their return to ADOR on the 12th. While Haerin and Hyein officially announced this news through the agency, Minji, Danielle, and Hanni expressed their intention to return about two and a half hours later via a law firm, showing a stark difference in tone.
According to a Munhwa Ilbo investigation, Haerin and Hyein had already expressed their intention to return to ADOR about a week before the official announcement and had been coordinating opinions with the agency since then. The reason they formalized it on the 12th was because the 13th marked the deadline to appeal the court’s ruling on the validity of their exclusive contracts. ADOR reportedly waited until that day for the remaining members to state their official position through whether or not they would appeal, even while maintaining communication with Haerin and Hyein.
In contrast, Minji, Danielle, and Hanni had not engaged in any official discussions with ADOR about returning as of the 12th. Their statement, released right after Haerin and Hyein’s announcement, was therefore effectively “one-sided.” Since the three declared “we will return” without prior contact, ADOR had no choice but to issue a reserved response, saying it was “trying to understand their true intentions.”
There is a significant gap between what the “two” and the “three” refer to as “discussion” and “consultation.” ADOR explained, “The two members, after careful consideration with their families, engaged in sufficient discussions with ADOR and decided to respect the court’s ruling and uphold their exclusive contracts.” This means Haerin and Hyein, being minors, went through a process of reconciliation with ADOR, including their parents, to resolve tensions that had built up over the past year.
On the other hand, Minji, Danielle, and Hanni stated, “After careful consultation, we decided to return to ADOR.” However, their “we” did not include Haerin and Hyein, and their “careful consultation” referred only to conversations among themselves. ADOR, who had been in a legal battle with them over contract validity for the past year, was excluded. Then, following Haerin and Hyein’s return announcement, the three abruptly issued their own statement to the media rather than to ADOR directly.
They explained that “one member is currently in Antarctica, which delayed communication, and since ADOR hasn’t responded yet, we had no choice but to announce separately.” But this was seen as consistent with their past “my way” approach. Analysts suggest that once Haerin and Hyein announced their return, the three felt pressured to respond immediately and released their statement publicly without waiting for ADOR’s reply.
Some have expressed disappointment that ADOR did not immediately take the hands extended by Minji, Danielle, and Hanni. However, if ADOR were to accept a unilateral declaration without proper coordination, it would be difficult to expect harmony and cohesion within the group even after their return.
Moreover, ADOR has an obligation to protect Haerin and Hyein, who proactively expressed their intention to return and cooperated in resolving the situation. If ADOR were to match the actions of Minji, Danielle, and Hanni without first confirming intentions and adjusting positions, it could create an uncomfortable atmosphere between the two who reconciled early and the other three members.
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