Chart-topping K-pop band NewJeans is losing one of its members in what is yet another twist in the group's bitter year-long feud with its record label.
In 2024, the band announced that they were leaving their record agency Ador, alleging workplace harassment which Ador denied.
The move set off a legal tussle that was only resolved in October this year - following a court ruling which said that the band had to stay with Ador until 2029. A month later, all five members stated they would return to their record label.
However, on Monday, Ador announced that it had terminated its contract with one of its members, Danielle Marsh - bringing to an end any hope of a full-group comeback and leaving fans devastated.
Many took to social media with the slogan: NewJeans is five or nothing. Other fans also questioned why Marsh was singled out.
Marsh has yet to publicly comment on the matter.
On Monday, Ador also said it would take legal action against ex-boss Min Hee-jin and one of Marsh's family members, who it claims bear significant responsibility for the fallout.
Ador claimed that NewJeans' members had been exposed to persistently distorted and biased information which led to significant misunderstandings about the label.
The statement also named two other NewJeans members: Hanni, who it said decided to remain with the label after extended conversations, and Minji, who is still in ongoing conversations with the agency.
These developments have stirred anxiety among fans, who are concerned over the potential split of the group, which has been remarkably successful since their debut in July 2022. They were the eighth biggest-selling act in the world a year later.
Music critic Lim Hee-yun commented on the situation, saying that NewJeans has changed the world of female K-pop acts, and that this outcome would not make anyone happy.
