Industry insiders are reporting new tension within NewJeans as three members are allegedly requesting that Min Hee Jin be reinstated as producer. According to Munhwa Ilbo, the members (believed to be Danielle, Hanni, and Minji) want the woman’s return to be a condition for their own comeback as entertainers. The reported disagreement comes from different views about how closely they should continue working with Min Hee Jin, their former CEO in HYBE’s ADOR.
ADOR has confirmed that Hyein and Haerin have already returned to the company, but negotiations with the other three members appear to be ongoing. When to comment on the reports that the trio is linking their comeback to Min Hee Jin’s reinstatement, ADOR simply stated that it was difficult to confirm or deny. The response has only added intrigue about how the internal decisions about NewJeans’ return are being made.
The current situation has become a complicated moment for the quintet as public interest continues to rise regarding their return to the company and the current legal battle Min Hee Jin has with HYBE’s ADOR. Meanwhile, NewJeans’ last musical activity was in March 2025, when they performed at Complex-Con Hong Kong under the name NJZ. Since then, HYBE’s ADOR filed an injunction to stop them from parting ways with them and has obtained a favorable verdict from the court, confirming that their contract with NewJeans is still valid. After months of legal battles and appeals, the group has finally agreed to come back, but HYBE’s ADOR hasn’t made an official announcement regarding the artists re-joining as five.