Ador, the agency behind K-pop girl group NewJeans, has filed a massive damages lawsuit against member Danielle following its move to terminate her exclusive contract — and the case has been assigned to the same Seoul court division that previously handled the high-profile legal battle between HYBE and former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin.
According to Korean outlet Newsis on Tuesday, the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 31 has been assigned to hear Ador’s lawsuit seeking contract penalties and damages from Danielle, a member of her family and Min. The company is demanding about 43.1 billion won ($31 million) in compensation. The date for the first hearing has not yet been set, the report said.
Ador announced Monday that it had notified Danielle of contract termination, saying it had determined that continuing with her as a NewJeans member and Ador artist was no longer possible.
The company also said it intends to pursue legal responsibility against one of Danielle’s family members and Min, claiming they played a major role in triggering the dispute and delaying the group’s return.
The lawsuit follows more than a year of turmoil surrounding the group and its former chief executive. After Min resigned from Ador and left the label, NewJeans declared that the group’s exclusive contract would be terminated as of Nov. 29, 2024, and signaled plans for independent activities. Ador immediately filed a court action seeking confirmation that the contract remained valid — and the court ruled in favor of the company.
During that period, Min launched a new entertainment agency called OK, signaling efforts to restart her career outside HYBE’s label structure. Meanwhile, the fractures inside NewJeans began to shift again: Members Haerin and Hyein confirmed their return to ADOR on Dec. 12, and Hanni followed on Monday. Member Minji is still in discussions with the company.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.