ADOR has officially entered into a full-scale legal battle over a 43 billion KRW (approximately 29 million USD) damages lawsuit filed against former member Danielle and former CEO Min Hee Jin. The Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Agreement Division 31 (Presiding Judge Nam In Soo) has scheduled March 26th as the first preparatory hearing date, marking the beginning of substantive proceedings.
This case is drawing significant industry attention, as the same court previously ruled in favor of former CEO Min in a separate 25.6 billion KRW put option lawsuit against HYBE in February. At the time, the court dismissed HYBE’s claim seeking confirmation of the termination of the shareholders’ agreement and upheld the validity of Min’s exercise of her put option, ordering HYBE to bear all legal costs. HYBE has since filed an appeal and requested a stay of enforcement.
ADOR filed this lawsuit in December of last year, simultaneously notifying Danielle of the termination of her exclusive contract. The company asserts that both Danielle and former CEO Min bear critical responsibility for triggering the dispute and causing the departure of NewJeans members, as well as delays in their return. ADOR has stated its intention to pursue full legal accountability.
Previously, NewJeans members had demanded Min’s reinstatement and claimed contract termination. However, the court ultimately ruled in favor of ADOR in a lawsuit confirming the validity of the exclusive contracts, leading to divided paths among the members.
Currently, Haerin, Hyein, and Hanni have returned to ADOR and resumed activities, while Minji is reportedly negotiating specific conditions for her return. In contrast, Danielle—identified as a key figure in the dispute—has been officially removed from the group following the contract termination notice.
Last month, Min proposed ending all disputes related to NewJeans in exchange for forfeiting the 25.6 billion KRW put option payout she had won. However, HYBE has maintained its position of pursuing a definitive legal judgment.
The outcome of this 43 billion KRW lawsuit is expected to serve as a critical turning point, not only for the future direction of NewJeans but also for resolving the prolonged legal conflict between HYBE and former CEO Min.
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