NewJeans Removes Danielle and Min Hee-jin From Official Channels as Four-Member Era Begins

ADOR has quietly removed all references to former NewJeans member Danielle and ex-CEO Min Hee-jin from the group's official platforms, signaling the K-pop act's formal transition to a four-member lineup following months of legal conflict.

On February 2, 2026, NewJeans' social media accounts on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and YouTube simultaneously updated their banner images, replacing group photos with the NewJeans logo. The profile picture on X shifted from a member photo to the Binky Bong, the group's official lightstick shaped like a rabbit.

Spotify underwent similar changes. The platform's artist description previously listed all five members by name-Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein-alongside Min Hee-jin's credit as founder and creative director. Both the individual names and Min's mention have been scrubbed from the bio.

The coordinated edits extend to HYBE's mobile rhythm games and the Weverse fan platform, where Danielle's profile was completely removed. Industry observers view the synchronized changes as ADOR's clearest signal yet that NewJeans will continue as a four-member group, though the agency has not issued an official statement about the updates.

Contract Termination and Legal Battle

The profile changes come five weeks after ADOR terminated Danielle's exclusive contract on December 29, 2025. The agency stated it determined "continuing together as a NewJeans member and ADOR artist" was no longer possible following what it described as repeated contract violations.

ADOR accused Danielle of entering conflicting agreements, participating in unauthorized entertainment activities, and damaging the reputation of both the company and NewJeans. The agency said it issued formal corrective action requests, but violations continued beyond the given timeframe.

On December 30, 2025, ADOR filed a damages lawsuit seeking 43.1 billion won ($30-32 million) against Danielle, an unidentified family member, and Min Hee-jin. The case was assigned to Civil Division 31 of the Seoul Central District Court, with no hearing date yet scheduled.

Legal experts have questioned whether courts will uphold the full damage amount, noting Korean courts typically reduce predetermined penalties deemed excessively high under Article 398 of the Civil Act. Analysts predict a final settlement between 1-5 billion won, representing just 2-11% of ADOR's original claim.

Origins of the Conflict

The dispute traces back to April 2024, when HYBE launched an audit into ADOR, accusing Min Hee-jin of attempting to gain independent control of the subsidiary and take NewJeans with her. Min, who founded ADOR and served as NewJeans' creative director since their 2022 debut, denied the allegations.

HYBE dismissed Min as CEO in August 2024. She retained a board position temporarily but resigned as an internal director in November 2024, effectively severing ties with the company.

In November 2024, all five NewJeans members announced they were terminating their contracts, claiming ADOR failed to meet its obligations and that Min's removal left them without proper protection. The group attempted to rebrand as "NJZ" and announced plans to perform independently.

ADOR responded by filing a contract validity lawsuit and requesting an injunction to block independent activities. On October 30, 2025, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in ADOR's favor, determining the contracts remain valid through 2029 and rejecting the members' termination claims.

Member Returns and Current Status

Following the court ruling, members began returning individually:

• Haerin and Hyein announced their return in November 2025, expressing intention to continue activities and respect the court's decision.
• Hanni visited Korea with her family in December 2025 for extended discussions with ADOR and confirmed her return on December 29, 2025.
• Minji remains in ongoing negotiations with ADOR, which the agency describes as "proceeding positively" to build mutual understanding. Her Weverse profile remains active.
• Danielle had her contract terminated on December 29, 2025, becoming the only member permanently removed from the group.

ADOR claims members were exposed to "persistently distorted and biased information" that led to misunderstandings about the company. The agency stated it plans to provide a comprehensive explanation of events at a separate briefing.

Danielle's Response

On January 12, 2026, Danielle broke her silence through an Instagram and YouTube livestream, her first public comments since the contract termination. She told fans she "fought till the very end to be together with the members" and that NewJeans would always hold a place in her heart.

Danielle described the moment as "an end and a beginning," stating legal discussions were ongoing and she would provide updates when appropriate. She thanked supporters and expressed hope to connect with fans in various ways moving forward.

Danielle has appointed legal counsel to contest the 43.1 billion won lawsuit, with her attorneys expected to issue formal statements as proceedings develop.

Min Hee-jin's New Venture

Min Hee-jin has moved forward with establishing her own entertainment company, Ooak Records (stylized as OOak Co.). In December 2025, she announced plans to debut a boy group under the new label, stating she would not create another girl group in the immediate future.

At a January 28, 2026 press conference, Min's attorney Kim Seon-woong of Ji-am Law Firm rejected allegations of "NewJeans tampering," claiming instead that a NewJeans member's family and a businessman used the group in a stock manipulation scheme unrelated to Min. Her legal team stated they are reviewing whether to file criminal complaints for organized stock price manipulation and fraud.

Min stated publicly that NewJeans "must remain a group of five under any circumstances," expressing respect for the members' decision to return to ADOR while maintaining her legal battle with HYBE is separate from the group.

Impact on NewJeans' Future

NewJeans debuted in July 2022 under Min Hee-jin's creative direction, quickly becoming one of K-pop's most commercially successful fourth-generation groups. Their EP "Get Up" topped the Billboard 200, and songs like "ETA" surpassed 400 million Spotify streams.

Min's vision shaped the group's distinctive blend of retro, hip-hop, and R&B influences, along with their fashion, choreography, and promotional strategy. Industry analysts note "NewJeans without Min" will inevitably differ from the version that dominated charts since 2022.

With Danielle's departure and the creative architect's exit, NewJeans faces questions about artistic direction and brand identity. HYBE analysts predict that if NewJeans makes a comeback in late 2026, activities could contribute 6-7 billion won in 2026 operating profit, rising to 20-30 billion won annually starting in 2027.

The group's February 2026 profile changes mark the formal conclusion of the five-member era that defined their meteoric rise, as ADOR positions NewJeans for a new chapter with four members and without their original creative force.