NewJeans' Hyein's Father Opposes ADOR Lawsuit… Loses Custody Rights

NewJeans' Hyein's Father Solely Opposed Lawsuit Against ADOR… Ultimately Lost Custody Rights

It has been revealed that the father of Hyein, a member of the group NewJeans, opposed the exclusive contract lawsuit against their agency, ADOR.

Previously, in November of last year, NewJeans claimed a breakdown of trust with ADOR due to alleged breaches of duty by the agency, and sought to terminate their exclusive contracts.

Following that, the members of NewJeans pushed forward with independent activities under a new name, "NJZ." However, on March 21, the court accepted ADOR’s request for an injunction to preserve its status as the management agency, putting a halt to the group's independent activities.

The court ruled that the members (or their legal guardians) could not engage in entertainment activities, either independently or through a third party, without prior approval or consent from ADOR. Consequently, the members were prohibited from using the name "NJZ" and suspended their activities. They have since appealed the court's decision.

Adding to the drama, during a hearing held on the 3rd regarding ADOR’s lawsuit seeking confirmation of the validity of the exclusive contracts with the five members, it was revealed that one of the parents of the underage members opposed the legal action — drawing significant public attention.

The court asked the NewJeans’ legal representative whether the lawsuit had been authorized in relation to "Defendant 4" under a family court ruling on parental rights. It became known that there had been a difference of opinion between the parents of one of the underage members — either Haerin or Hyein — which led to legal proceedings regarding parental authority, sparking controversy.

In response, the parents of NewJeans posted a lengthy message on social media on the 4th, stating, “The claim that there is division among the members’ parents is completely false.”

They added, “The rumors regarding member Haerin are entirely untrue. Both Haerin and her parents are fully aligned in their views. Any speculation regarding their family affairs is also baseless. The parental authority adjustment was made for a different member, and that family too has a unified stance between the child and the mother. We respectfully ask that people refrain from speculating about this. All families are currently supporting and respecting their children.”

They concluded, “Parental rights are a private family matter. We hope that this issue is not maliciously linked to the legal dispute with ADOR.”

Following this clarification, it became known that the member whose parents had differing views was not Haerin, but Hyein. As the lawsuit proceeded, it was confirmed that the individual who opposed the lawsuit was Hyein’s father.

According to recent legal reports, Hyein’s mother filed a petition with the Seoul Family Court requesting that the father's parental authority be restricted specifically for this lawsuit.

The court sided with Hyein’s mother, ruling that “It is appropriate to allow the petitioner to exercise parental authority alone.”