During the concert at Inspire Arena, as the lights dimmed on stage, Bang Si Hyuk showed a brief smile. Captured by camera shutters, the vibrant energy of LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and KATSEYE intertwined in a single moment. A sense of sisterhood blossomed among the girls as they pursued their individual dreams. However, the absence of NewJeans loomed in the background, symbolizing a fractured family.

On April 22nd KST, HYBE Chairman Bang Si Hyuk shared a group photo on Instagram with the caption "United!" The picture depicted members of LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and KATSEYE, three prominent girl groups under HYBE, backstage at LE SSERAFIM's recent world tour concert in Incheon. He used hashtags for each group and #ONETEAM, emphasizing unity within HYBE's expanding roster of female artists.

Notably, NewJeans was missing from the photo.

Since November last year, NewJeans members have been in a legal dispute with their agency ADOR, seeking to terminate their contracts unilaterally and operate independently as NJZ. This action led to disagreements over trademark rights and the use of the name "NewJeans."

The legal battle escalated when, on March 21st, the court supported ADOR with a preliminary injunction, recognizing ADOR as the group's management agency. The ruling prohibited the members from partaking in entertainment activities, including songwriting, performances, TV appearances, and commercial ventures, without ADOR's consent.

Despite NewJeans filing an appeal, the Seoul Central District Court rejected their objection on April 16th, confirming ADOR's authority over the group's endeavors.

While Bang Si Hyuk's post aimed to showcase unity among HYBE's girl groups, the absence of NewJeans introduced an unspoken tension, leaving many fans feeling like the celebration was incomplete.