It has been half a year since the announcement of their return to ADOR, but Minji’s status remains uncertain. The group is at a critical crossroads that will define their identity, while time continues to slip away.
It has already been one year and five months since the five members of NewJeans began independent activities in November 2024, claiming their contracts with ADOR had been unilaterally terminated. Since then, the court granted all of ADOR’s injunction requests, limiting the members’ independent activities. Consequently, the members announced their return to ADOR last November, marking a major turning point.
However, a deep rift remains. Unlike Haerin and Hyein, who returned after consultations with ADOR, Minji, Hanni, and Danielle declared their return unilaterally. While Hanni rejoined through normal procedures, Danielle eventually left the group. Even now, six months later, Minji is still in the process of “consultations in a generally positive direction.”
There has been some progress. On the 7th, a post celebrating Minji’s birthday was uploaded to NewJeans’ official social media. The fact that news of Minji was shared through official channels leads to speculation that consultations are going well and her return is imminent. Since ADOR likely posted it with Minji’s consent, it suggests the gap is narrowing, even if a return isn’t immediate.
It naturally takes time to close a wide gap, and NewJeans appears to be in that process. The real issue is time. It has almost been two years since NewJeans released their last song.
Minji’s long deliberation is understandable. As the team leader and a core member, she was the most vocal during the process of leaving the agency. Having carried the heaviest burden, the process of deciding to return is clearly not easy. Minji was also the member who insistently claimed “the contract was terminated” during a press conference, asking, “Do you understand?” The pressure must be immense.
The difference between a three-member and a four-member group is more than just one person. It is the biggest variable that will determine NewJeans’ future direction in terms of fandom unity and maintaining their identity.
A key factor in NewJeans’ popularity is the harmless and natural “peer group narrative” created by the five girls. Despite the painful loss of Danielle, if Minji, the leader, can provide a center of gravity, much of the original NewJeans identity can be preserved. For the public, a four-out-of-five lineup is the psychological baseline to be accepted as a continuation of NewJeans.
A three-member lineup feels completely different. With nearly half of the original members gone, a trio is essentially closer to a “unit” or a “new group.” As the unique vocal tones and visual balance collapse, the distinct color and identity of the NewJeans brand would inevitably blur. In that case, more meticulous planning and more time would be required.
Beyond the structural issue of member count, there is a bigger mountain for NewJeans to climb: public fatigue and cooled sentiment. Through interviews with foreign media and other means, the members attempted to be “victims or revolutionaries” fighting an unfair system, but in doing so, they lost both their justification and practical gains. The way to overcome this is through a mature attitude, sincere progress, and overwhelming music.
Time is not on NewJeans’ side. A critical hiatus of a year and a half has already occurred since leaving the agency, and it’s been nearly two years since their last new song. Meanwhile, K-pop trends are changing daily, and numerous teams are being born and rising to the top. The golden time for NewJeans to turn their “incomplete second act” into a “successful second act” is ticking away.
