[theqoo] NEWJEANS 'WITHOUT MIN HEEJIN', 4 YEARS ANNIVERSARY VIDEO... RETURN ANNOUNCEMENT DRAWS CRITICISM AS "TACKY"

Reactions are mixed regarding the full-group content released by NewJeans without former ADOR CEO Min Heejin.

On the 22nd, to mark the fourth anniversary of their debut, NewJeans released a special film titled “2026 Summer of NewJeans” and new group photos on their official YouTube channel and social media. This official group content featuring all four members (Minji, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein) marks their first such release in about one year and four months since they suspended activities last March.

The video begins with a scene of Minji appearing alone on a dark summer night, followed by Hyein, Hanni, and Haerin joining her one by one. The scene where the four members hold hands and gaze in the same direction was interpreted as a symbolic message, signifying that they have reunited after overcoming a long period of uncertainty regarding their future. Among fans, reactions welcoming the news of the group’s first full lineup in a long time were predominant, with comments such as, “The NewJeans vibe is back,” and “It’s great just to see the four of them together.”

On the other hand, there were also critical voices regarding the visual quality of the content.

On the 22nd, film poster designer Park Si-young posted on his social media about the video, calling it “tacky” and writing, “What kind of aesthetic is this? It’s not even the ‘Gayo Top 10’ era anymore; talentless kids just jumped on the bandwagon and scraped up every last bit.” He added, “What’s up with the four members of NewJeans? It’s like ‘Attack’ was left out of Attack on Titan,” adding a remark interpreted as targeting HYBE.

Director Shin Hee-won, who directed NewJeans’ music videos for “Attention,” “Hurt,” and “Super Shy,” also reacted on his social media that day by posting the short phrase, “The power of the director.”

The creative director for this NewJeans video is Kim Na-yeon, who is known to have remained at ADOR even after former CEO Min Heejin’s resignation and has been overseeing visuals under the new management team. Given that a significant number of key personnel who shaped NewJeans’ identity under former CEO Min Heejin’s leadership have been replaced, this content also holds special significance as it signals NewJeans’ comeback and future direction.

original post: here

1. These were the aesthetics of the NewJeans I knew

2. ㅋㅋ I guess it's supposed to be tacky, people who've already decided on the answer are so f*cking annoying

3. Then they can just wait for Min's upcoming group. I wonder how they will look like

4. But they've always been tacky

5. Adults, can you guys shut up already? The kids are comingㅜ

6. This isn't even some album concept or anything. It was just an anniversary celebration, no? I'm so tired at how nitpicky people are

7. I found it pretty though

8. They had a lot of tacky styles even when they were a five-member group, but if it's only become an issue since they became a four-member groupㅋㅋ I wonder if it's because their image has changed due to all the controversies, like lawsuits, parliamentary hearings, and dual contracts? I hear the director who created the 'Bunny' concept is still there, though