MUSIC
NewJeans' Hanni Remains in Antarctica Amidst Group's Return to ADOR
According to a report by TENASIA on the 17th, Hanni has not returned to the country as of this date, despite the group's announcement of their return to ADOR five days ago. The reason for Hanni's stay in Antarctica remains unclear, and there is growing curiosity about when she will return to South Korea.
Hanni, along with Minji and Danielle, announced their return to ADOR through the law firm Hanil on the 12th. However, the announcement was made unilaterally, prompting ADOR to state that they are "verifying the authenticity" of the declaration. ADOR further mentioned that they are "scheduling individual interviews with the members and will do their best to ensure smooth discussions." However, Hanni's absence has delayed the scheduling of these interviews.
Hanni was also absent from a meeting held on the 11th between ADOR CEO Lee Do-kyong and NewJeans members and their parents. On that day, Minji, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, along with their parents, communicated with ADOR regarding the situation, but Hanni reportedly informed them of her absence alone.
The fact that Hanni is in Antarctica was revealed through a statement by Minji, Hanni, and Danielle. The statement mentioned that "one member is currently in Antarctica," sparking curiosity about which member it was, leading to a so-called "Antarctic member search" incident.
In relation to this, a netizen posted a photo on their social media showing Hanni's autograph, claiming, "I met Hanni by chance in Ushuaia, Argentina," and added, "Hanni looked very happy." Ushuaia is a city located at the southernmost tip of Argentina, one of the closest regions to Antarctica. Although Danielle, known for her interest in marathons with singer Sean, was also speculated to be the Antarctic member, she is currently in South Korea.
Meanwhile, NewJeans declared the termination of their exclusive contract with ADOR last November, citing a breach of contract. However, the court ruled that the exclusive contract between ADOR and NewJeans remains valid. Although NewJeans expressed their intention to appeal, they changed their stance on the 12th, a day before the appeal deadline, announcing their return to ADOR.
During this process, Haerin and Hyein conveyed their intention to return through ADOR after discussions with their families. ADOR stated, "We respect the court's decision and have decided to comply with the exclusive contract," adding, "We will do our best to ensure Haerin and Hyein can continue their entertainment activities smoothly. We respectfully ask for restraint from speculation about the members."
