NewJeans member Haerin made her first public appearance in over a year, signaling her return to the spotlight.
The K-pop star attended a photo call event for Christian Dior Beauty’s pop-up store at Lotte Department Store in Jamsil, Seoul, on Monday.
Donning a chic black dress paired with a white cardigan, Haerin captivated onlookers with her more mature yet still distinctly feline-like visuals. As fans erupted in cheers during the photo session, she charmingly covered her mouth while smiling.
The idol’s gracious demeanor continued as she exited the event, waving to fans and offering a heartfelt “Thank you.”
This marks Haerin’s first media appearance since March of last year, when she attended a provisional hearing at the Seoul Central District Court regarding her contract with ADOR.
Haerin has been steadily resuming her individual activities. Last month, she graced a magazine cover, her first solo project since rejoining ADOR.
The NewJeans members, who had been embroiled in a dispute with ADOR since 2024, announced their return to the agency in November of last year.
ADOR officially confirmed that after careful deliberation, Hani decided to return, following Haerin and Hyein. The agency also noted ongoing internal discussions regarding Minji’s future activities.
To commemorate NewJeans’ fourth anniversary in July, ADOR released a variety of content featuring Hani, Hyein, and Haerin, fueling anticipation for their comeback.
Notably, Danielle was absent from these celebrations. ADOR stated they had terminated Danielle’s contract, deeming it difficult to continue working with him as both a NewJeans member and ADOR artist. The agency also announced plans to pursue legal action against a member of Daniel’s family and former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Min Hee-jin, holding them responsible for the group’s disruption and delayed return.
ADOR has since filed a lawsuit against Daniel for contract breach and damages. They’re also seeking compensation from a member of Daniel’s family and former CEO Min Hee-jin for their alleged roles in the group’s upheaval. The total damages sought amount to 331 billion KRW (about 245 million USD).
Meanwhile, Danielle has been keeping fans updated via social media. In a recent YouTube video, she shared that she really missed her hometown and decided to spend time with her family there first. She added cryptically that she’s about to embark on a new solo adventure. Who knows what the future holds?