On September 25th, the deadline NewJeans gave for Min Hee-jin’s return, ADOR announced that they would not reinstate her as CEO.
Instead, ADOR proposed an alternative of extending her term as an internal director, but Min Hee-jin responded “There was no sincere offer” and reiterated her demand for the CEO position.
Amidst this, NewJeans’ Minji posted a message on the fan communication platform, saying, “It’s probably a night full of thoughts. I always get strength from seeing Bunnies (fandom). Please take care of yourselves and only have good thoughts. Byeee.”
This message sparked speculation that Minji might be making a significant decision in light of Min Hee-jin’s non-return. Others believe she was simply reassuring fans amidst the complex situation.
On the same day, a group photo without Hanni was posted on NewJeans’ official account, causing an unexpected stir.
This led to speculations that Hanni’s absence might be related to the ongoing conflict between Min Hee-jin and HYBE.
However, it was clarified that the photo was a still cut taken during the filming of their own content that was recently posted on NewJeans’ YouTube channel. At the time, the video’s caption explained, “Hanni is absent due to health reasons. We ask for your understanding.”
Some voices are urging people to refrain from overanalyzing the situation, warning that excessive scrutiny could create additional conflict. Meanwhile, NewJeans’ fans have expressed concerns about the psychological pressure on the members and the potential impact on their activities.
As the dispute between Min Hee-jin and HYBE continues with revelations one after another, there is growing speculation that NewJeans might pursue a lawsuit to terminate their exclusive contracts. However, no official statement has been made by the NewJeans members so far.