The K-pop group NewJeans released a series of short videos on Wednesday, suggesting it was close to a comeback after a monthslong legal dispute with its label put its career on hold.
The videos were posted on YouTube and feature four members — Minji, Hyein, Hanni, and Haerin — but no new music or dialogue. Nor did they include Danielle, the fifth bandmate, who was expelled from the group by its label.
In a statement, Ador, the group’s label, said the series, titled “2026 Summer of NewJeans,” was a celebration of the fourth anniversary of the band’s debut. “More details on the group’s future plans and activities will be shared once discussions with the members are complete,” it said without providing more details.
The group has been in limbo since the end of 2024, when the five members announced that they were leaving Ador because of mistreatment by the label and its parent company, Hybe. Their grievances stemmed from the removal of Min Hee-jin, the band’s producer and creative director, who had accused Hybe of malpractice and plagiarism.
The feud quickly became one of the most public disputes in the K-pop industry, spotlighting its complex management structures and rigid contracts.
In October, a South Korean court ordered the five members to return to Ador. But two months later, Ador dropped Danielle and went on to sue her, her mother and Ms. Min for a total of 33.1 billion won, about $22 million, for delaying the group’s activities and a breach of contract.
Representatives for Danielle and Ms. Min have repeatedly denied the accusations in court, which has yet to deliver a final ruling.
One of the five new videos showed the four remaining members reuniting on an isolated road in an undisclosed location on a summer night. The rest were solo videos of each — Hyein visits an ice cream shop, Haerin carries a bunny rag doll (the group’s fans call themselves Bunnies), Hanni plays a guitar, and Minji goes on a drive. The group also posted new photos to its Instagram page on Wednesday.
NewJeans hit the charts in 2022 with tracks like “Attention” and “Hype Boy.” The following year, its song “SuperShy” reached No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the group was crowned the Top Global K-pop Artist at the Billboard Music Awards. The band has received praise from music critics for their sophisticated style and vivid artistry.
A lawyer for Danielle did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Wednesday, Danielle posted photos of herself on her Instagram account with the caption, “Life gets cloudy sometimes, but the light always finds its way back in.”
