Is Korean group NewJeans the new Fifty Fifty? How HYBE vs ADOR drama forces the band to fade into oblivion

K-pop girl group NewJeans' fate hangs in the balance amid the ugly public spat between Min Hee Jin, the former CEO of their agency ADOR, and their parent label HYBE's chairperson Bang Si Hyuk. Going public against their record label to demand Min's reinstatement as ADOR CEO further solidified NewJeans' differences with HYBE and its boss Bang, with uncertainty looming over their musical career. In a similar turn of events last year, Fifty Fifty, a promising girl group, lost three of its four original members.

Both Min and Bang have levelled malicious allegations against each other followed by a raging war of he-said-she-saids, countless lawsuits, and emotionally charged press conferences. However, amidst the high-profile drama that seems far from over, it's the 4th generation girl group's future that stands on the brink of disaster.

What's happening between ADOR and HYBE?

It all started after HYBE, also home to K-pop giant BTS, announced it had launched an investigation into its subsidiary ADOR. The company claimed that Min Hee Jin was unlawfully trying to take control of ADOR and NewJeans. In return, Min accused Bang Si Hyuk of copying her ideas to put BTS on the map, sparking an industry-wide debate on the authenticity of her claims. She also claimed that HYBE's new group, ILLIT, is nothing more than a copy of her brainchild, NewJeans.

During this entire fiasco, NewJeans have unequivocally expressed their support for Min Hee Jin, with their parents speaking out against Bang Si Hyuk and claiming he had neglected the members on multiple occasions and even asked other employees to ignore the girl group. In a surprise livestream on YouTube three weeks ago, the quintet spoke about their dissatisfaction with their record label, HYBE, at length and demanded the reinstatement of Min Hee Jin by September 25. HYBE refused to entertain the girl group's demands, putting a big fat question mark over their future.

What's next for NewJeans?

NewJeans, having debuted in 2022, is committed to a seven-year contract with HYBE, which runs out in 2029; however, the members have outright shown their disinterest in working with the company sans Min Hee Jin. With Bang and Min going all out to shame each other, it's highly unlikely that the HYBE boss would reinstate the former ADOR CEO, leaving NewJeans with no choice but to seek an early termination. However, a way out of the biggest entertainment company in South Korea will cost the members a fortune, precisely 300 billion KRW, which roughly comes up to 225 million USD.

What went down with Fifty Fifty?

In June of last year, the original members of Fifty Fifty¡ªSSio, Saena, Aran, and Keena¡ªfiled for an injunction to suspend their contracts with their agency, ATTRAKT. The members accused their agency of failing to provide them with a safe environment and lack of financial data. However, the Seoul Central District Court denied their injunction. Except for Keena, all the members decided to pursue their appeal, and the company subsequently terminated its contracts with the trio and filed a lawsuit seeking 13 billion won ($9.9 million) against the singers and their "supporters." In turn, the trio submitted a counterclaim, asking the CEO of ATTRAKT to pay up to 300 million KRW in settlement funds. A resolution in the legal tussle has yet to be reached between the two parties.

New Jews to meet a similar fate?

Amid the legal battle, HYBE has planned to put NewJeans on a ¡°long hiatus," per Koreaboo. Once touted to be the next big thing in K-pop, NewJeans' comeback now remains uncertain. With the five-member group continuing to stand tall against the K-pop conglomerate, they may meet a fate similar to Fifty Fifty.