"Starting midnight on the 29th, the contract will automatically be terminated." (Minji)

NewJeans has announced the termination of their exclusive contract with ADOR, citing ADOR's breach of the agreement. They also stated that they have no obligation to pay penalties. Additionally, the group expressed their wish to work with former CEO Min Hee-jin, who resigned eight days ago.

The press conference was unexpected. NewJeans contacted media outlets at 6 PM on the 28th, and the conference took place two and a half hours later in Samseong-dong, Gangnam, Seoul. Danielle attended immediately after wrapping up a fashion brand event.

Hanni was the first to speak, emphasizing that the YouTube live broadcast in September, the legal notice sent two weeks ago, and the decision to hold the press conference were all made collectively by the members.

On the 13th, NewJeans sent a legal notice to ADOR with six demands, warning that they would terminate the contract if the issues were not resolved within 14 days:

① An official apology from the manager who told Hanni to "ignore it"

② Removal of videos and photos used without consent

③ Assessment of damages caused by "album chart manipulation" and a plan to address them

④ Resolution of disputes with Dolphin Kidnappers director Shin Woo-seok and recovery of lost original works

⑤ Commitment to preserving NewJeans' unique identity and creative works

⑥ Reinstatement of former CEO Min Hee-jin.

The deadline was the 28th. Hanni explained, "Even after business hours, ADOR did not provide a response. We have a schedule in Japan tomorrow," explaining the reason for holding the press conference.

NewJeans then officially announced the termination of their contract. Hanni stated, "The reason for leaving ADOR is simple. ADOR has neither the will nor the ability to protect NewJeans. Continuing would be a waste of time and mental distress."

The group claimed they had attempted multiple discussions with ADOR. Minji remarked, "All we received were performative emails with no intention to improve. We are exhausted by their insincere attitude, and nothing has been resolved."

The termination was declared final without any specific future plans. When multiple reporters asked about potential lawsuits, NewJeans consistently replied, "The contract is automatically terminated due to ADOR and HYBE's breaches."

Questions about the contract continued, prompting the hosting agency to intervene. They stated, "We cannot provide immediate answers regarding legal matters. This is not a venue to express legal opinions."

The group reiterated their desire to work with Min Hee-jin. Minji said, "If possible, I want to continue working with former CEO Min Hee-jin." Danielle added, "I want to make music I love with her."

The issue of penalties was also addressed. Hae-rin declared, "We have not violated the exclusive contract. We are still doing our best to promote. There is absolutely no reason for us to pay any penalties. ADOR and HYBE should take responsibility."

The members expressed their intention to retain their team name. Hye-in said, "We might not be able to use the name NewJeans for a while, but the five of us as NewJeans will never change. We have no intention of giving up our identity."

Meanwhile, NewJeans announced that they would disclose ADOR's response to their legal notice on the morning of the 29th.