BBC | Two members of NewJeans, Hyein and Haerin, will return to their record label Ador, the agency has announced, in a move that has led fans to question whether the K-pop group will now split up.
NewJeans has been locked in a legal battle with Ador, since the five-member group announced last year that they were leaving the agency because of mistreatment and manipulation. Ador has denied these claims.
Last month, South Korean court ruled that NewJeans's contract with Ador - which runs until 2029 - remains valid. NewJeans said it would appeal.
The dispute has rocked the K-pop industry, where record labels typically exercise strict control over their artists.
Ador is a subsidiary label of Hybe, South Korea's biggest music label behind chart-topping groups such as BTS.
In a statement on X, Ador wrote that Hyein and Haerin had decided to "respect the court's latest ruling" after "thoughtful consideration with their respective families and thorough discussions with ADOR".
"We request the warm support from the fans and respectfully urge you to avoid engaging in unfounded speculation regarding the members," the statement said.
Plans for the other three members - Hanni, Danielle and Minji - are unclear.
NewJeans's legal representative declined to comment when contacted by the BBC.
Formed in July 2022, NewJeans, whose members are aged from 17 to 21, had a dramatic fallout with their agency in 2024.
It was sparked by the controversial dismissal of Ador CEO Min Hee-jin, who had also been NewJeans's mentor.
NewJeans then accused Ador of "mistreatment" and "deliberate miscommunications and manipulation", and set out several demands including the reinstatement of Min.
When those demands were not met the five members declared they were leaving Ador, which in turn initiated a lawsuit to prevent them from departing.