Recent reports indicated that one of the NewJeans members' parents opposed a lawsuit against ADOR regarding contract termination. Initially, it was believed to be Haerin's mother, but further investigation revealed that it was actually Hyein's father who opposed the legal action.
The issue arose after a report by Chosun Ilbo mentioned that during a court hearing on April 3rd, the judge questioned whether the parents of the minor members had approved the lawsuit. This led to speculation about a disagreement between the parents of Hyein and Haerin regarding the lawsuit.
Chosun Ilbo later highlighted a previous court hearing on March 7th, where a discrepancy in the representatives' authority hinted at a disagreement between the parents leading to a civil lawsuit over legal guardianship. This raised questions about which parent opposed the contract termination.
Initial online speculation pointed to "Defendant 4" being Haerin, as she was the only NewJeans member with the surname "Kang." Additionally, only Haerin's father was listed as the legal representative in court records, leading to assumptions that it was Haerin's mother opposing the lawsuit.
However, a later investigation by New Daily clarified that it was actually Hyein's father who opposed the contract termination lawsuit. Initially in agreement with the other NewJeans members' families in terminating the contract, he later changed his stance for unspecified reasons, leading to a legal dispute with his wife over legal guardianship. The court ruling on March 14th favored Hyein's mother, making her the sole legal representative in the ongoing lawsuit.
Despite ongoing legal disputes with ADOR, NewJeans continues its efforts to terminate their exclusive contract since November 2023.
Regarding K-netizens' reactions, sentiments expressed included understanding the pressure on young artists to make decisions under scrutiny, criticism against unjust attacks on families, and sympathy for Hyein's situation considering her young age and the challenges she faces in the industry.