NewJeans

NewJeans (뉴진스) burst onto the K-pop scene in 2022 with almost no warning – no pre-debut teasers, no drawn-out countdown, just a surprise music video that instantly rewrote what a rookie girl group could sound and look like. Formed under ADOR (a HYBE label led at the time by producer Min Hee-jin), NewJeans debuted on July 22, 2022 with the single “Attention,” and within weeks the group had become one of the most talked-about acts in the industry.

The group’s name is a clever double meaning: like a favorite pair of jeans, the group aims to feel timeless and effortless, while also playing on the phrase “new genes” – a nod to representing a new generation of pop music. That Y2K-meets-UK-garage sound, paired with an off-duty, girl-next-door visual style, made songs like “Hype Boy,” “Ditto,” “OMG,” and “Super Shy” feel like nothing else on Korean radio at the time.

NewJeans originally debuted as a five-member group – Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein – and quickly set commercial records, including the fastest rookie girl group to top the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Hot 100. Their momentum continued through 2023 and 2024 with releases like the EP Get Up, the single How Sweet, and their official Japanese debut with Supernatural.

Since late 2024, NewJeans has also been at the center of one of the most closely watched disputes in modern K-pop: a public falling-out with ADOR and parent company HYBE following the removal of Min Hee-jin as ADOR’s CEO. The members briefly performed under the name NJZ while pursuing contract termination, though South Korean courts ultimately ruled that their exclusive contracts with ADOR remained valid. As of mid-2026, Minji, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein have returned to activities under ADOR, while former member Danielle’s contract was terminated in December 2025. The situation remains a developing story, but it hasn’t dimmed the group’s cultural footprint – NewJeans is still routinely cited as one of the most influential rookie acts of the 2020s, credited with popularizing the Y2K revival across global pop and fashion.