"Love how unhinged Hanni is"— Fan speculations run wild as NewJeans Hanni reveals a cryptic message on her phone at the airport

On December 13, 2024, fans were abuzz online after NewJeans’ Hanni appeared at the airport holding her phone, which displayed a cryptic message on the screen. This fueled speculation about the group’s ongoing contract feud with their agency, ADOR. The official account of @AboutMusicYT posted a picture of her holding her iPhone, displaying various emojis.

The emojis included a tooth, a thinking emoji, filming, a girl, a hand sign, a button, a needle and thread, a reverse sign, a clover, and stars. Some speculated that she was hinting at an upcoming group release amidst NewJeans' ongoing strife with ADOR.

As the legal battle intensifies, fans eagerly await clarity on the group’s future. Online theories surrounding Hanni’s cryptic message have only deepened the mystery. One fan hilariously claimed that they love how "unhinged" Hanni is for leaving a cryptic message for her fans to decode.

"I love how unhinged Hanni is. New Jeans bias unlocked!"

Fans joked as some claimed that Hanni must have asked them to stream ATEEZ's latest track, ICE ON MY TEETH.

"Sounds intriguing! NewJeans always knows how to keep fans guessing with their cryptic hints. Wonder what it could be about?" one fan wrote.

"She said to stream ice on my teeth by ateez!" another fan said.

"The illit shade? end them for me queen," one other fan wrote.

Others joined the hilarious reaction parade and said that the idol expressed her wish to see the K-pop group fromis_9 "re-debut" under a different group. A few fans also speculated if Hanni was hinting at the group's upcoming release.

"GUYS REMEMBER CLOVER WAS A HINT FOR THEIR COMEBACK, OH WE ARE SOOOOOO BACK," one fan wrote.

"Another video coming out? tooth - 0? at 2:30????" another fan guessed.

"The [clover] at the end means Hanni also wishes for fromis_9 to redebut as an entire group under a different company," another fan added.

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KMCA issues a warning against NewJeans, instructing them to be faithful to the contract & backstory

On November 13, 2024, NewJeans sent a certified letter to ADOR demanding changes, including the reappointment of Min Hee-jin as CEO. They claimed that her dismissal had adversely impacted the group’s management and creative direction. The group further accused the agency of mistreatment and miscommunication, prompting fans to rally behind their bold stand.

The incident occurred amid escalating tensions, leading the K-pop quintet to announce the termination of their exclusive contracts with ADOR. They held a press conference on November 28, 2024, to clarify their stance.

ADOR responded by asserting that NewJeans’ exclusive contracts remain legally binding and the group’s unilateral termination is not valid. On December 5, the label filed an injunction against the girl group to appeal to the court on the contract's legality.

On December 13, 2024, the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) issued a formal warning to NewJeans for their defiance, urging the members to honor their contracts. SPOTV News reported that the KMCA emphasized that contractual integrity is essential to the industry’s legal framework. They urged the group to resolve the conflict through legal means rather than public defiance.

"You must faithfully fulfill your exclusive contract and negotiate through sincere dialogue with the agency, but if you cannot reach an agreement, you must humbly await the judgment of the judiciary. NewJeans are not the only ones in the popular music industry," KMCA stated.

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The dispute is deeply intertwined with Min Hee-jin’s ongoing conflict with HYBE, ADOR’s parent company. Min Hee-jin, who spearheaded NewJeans’ success, was dismissed as ADOR’s CEO in August 2024 amidst internal tensions.

Following public support from the girl group, Min Hee-jin was briefly rehired as an inside director on October 17 but officially resigned on November 20, 2024, citing irreconcilable differences.