NewJeans’ Hyein at the center of family dispute amid ADOR lawsuit; mother granted sole custody

NewJeans Hyein

As the legal feud between girl group NewJeans and their agency ADOR continues to escalate, new reports have shed light on an unexpected internal struggle involving Hyein and her family. According to New Daily, it was Hyein’s father—not Haerin’s parent as previously speculated—who opposed the group’s lawsuit to terminate their exclusive contracts with ADOR, prompting a custody battle in family court.

Earlier speculation had pointed fingers at Haerin, after court documents referred to “Defendant 4” with the surname Kang, which matches Haerin’s last name. But New Daily clarified that the parent opposing the legal proceedings was in fact Hyein’s father. Since Hyein and Haerin are both minors, they require legal guardians to represent them in court. The conflicting stance between Hyein’s parents triggered a legal guardianship case, raising the question of who held the authority to act on her behalf.

The issue came to light during hearings in March and April, when the Seoul Central District Court acknowledged a “defect in the right of litigation representation.” On March 7, the judge raised concerns about a parent’s resistance obstructing court progress, and by April 3, the court asked whether the Family Court had resolved the matter of legal custody.

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The turning point came on March 14, when the Family Court ruled in favour of Hyein’s mother, granting her sole custody and legal guardianship. This decision not only allows the lawsuit to continue smoothly but also removes any legal ambiguity surrounding Hyein’s involvement in NJZ’s bid to break free from ADOR.

Interestingly, reports state that Hyein’s father had originally supported the group's notice of contract termination in November 2023, but later reversed his position, leading to friction both within the legal team and within Hyein’s family. The reasons for his change of heart remain unclear.