The Dolphin Kidnapping Group has appealed a court ruling requiring them to pay damages to ADOR after a legal dispute over music videos.
January/21/2026 18:47Related Groups & Members
The Dolphin Kidnapping Group has appealed the first-instance ruling against ADOR. On the 21st, according to the legal community, the Dolphin Kidnapping Group submitted an appeal to the Seoul Central District Court the previous day. On the 13th, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in a 1.1 billion won (approximately 110 million yen) damages lawsuit filed by ADOR against the Dolphin Kidnapping Group and director Shin Woosuk, ordering the Dolphin Kidnapping Group to pay ADOR 1 billion won (approximately 100 million yen) plus 12% annual late interest. The Dolphin Kidnapping Group is an advertising production company that has directed numerous music videos for NewJeans. They posted the director's cut of the music video for 'ETA' on the Dolphin Kidnapping Group's YouTube channel. Subsequently, director Shin Woosuk claimed, 'Due to ADOR's request for deletion, all videos related to NewJeans that the Dolphin Kidnapping Group had worked on and uploaded, as well as those planned for future uploads, can no longer be made public.' In response, ADOR clarified the reason for requesting the suspension of posting, stating that the director's cut of the music video for 'ETA' posted by the Dolphin Kidnapping Group included edits that had previously been a point of disagreement with the advertiser and was published without consultation with the advertiser. The conflict between the two parties escalated into a court dispute. The Dolphin Kidnapping Group maintains that there was a verbal agreement made when Min Heejin was the representative of ADOR. Former representative Min Heejin attended the trial directly, claiming that director Shin Woosuk's posting of the work on his channel was industry practice and had been verbally agreed upon. However, ADOR argued that 'the Dolphin Kidnapping Group published the video without prior written consent, violating the business contract,' and stated, 'The claim that director Shin Woosuk (Dolphin Kidnapping Group) is a creator and therefore unaware of the contract does not absolve them from complying with the law and contract.'
Related Articles
Min Hee-jin, former ADOR representative, won a lawsuit against HYBE concerning stock sale claims. The court ruled that her exercise of the put option was valid, ordering HYBE to pay her 25 billion won. HYBE's claims of contract violation were dismissed, and the court found no significant breach regarding allegations of plagiarism.
Min Hee-jin, former ADOR representative, fainted after hearing comments from a member's family regarding tampering allegations. Her lawyer stated that she bears no responsibility, claiming that certain forces exploited the situation for stock market manipulation. The family member involved is reported to be Hae-in's uncle, who downplayed the situation. Min has suffered from severe stress and feels betrayed by those she tried to protect. ADOR is pursuing legal action against Min and others for damages related to the scandal.
ADOR, the label under HYBE, clarified its position regarding Min Hee-jin's press conference, suggesting legal claims should be settled in court. Min Hee-jin's lawyer claimed that the allegations against her were part of a fraudulent scheme involving a NewJeans member's family. Legal disputes between Min Hee-jin and HYBE are ongoing, with significant damage claims filed by both parties.
Hani from NewJeans was recently seen in Australia, appearing healthy, according to a fan's report. While fans are relieved, they speculate that the group's comeback date remains uncertain. Following a legal dispute with their agency ADOR, Hani has returned to the company after a court ruling favored ADOR. Other members are still negotiating their statuses.
Min Hee-jin, former ADOR head, denies allegations of tampering regarding NewJeans, attributing issues to external forces and family involvement. He claims evidence shows manipulation aimed at stock price disruption, and he has sought to resolve disputes with HYBE while relinquishing rights for NewJeans' return.
Min Hee-jin, the former head of ADOR, will hold a press conference on the 28th to address allegations of tampering related to NewJeans. Her legal representative announced the event to clarify the truth behind the ongoing lawsuits involving ADOR and NewJeans members. Min previously held two emergency press conferences but will not attend this one.
Dolphin Kidnappers paid 1.2 billion won to stop execution of a ruling in a lawsuit over NewJeans' music video. The court ruled partially in favor of ADOR, ordering Dolphin Kidnappers to pay damages for breach of contract, but dismissed some claims against director Shin Woosuk. The case began after Dolphin Kidnappers uploaded a director's cut of NewJeans' video to YouTube, leading to ADOR's copyright and contract violation lawsuit.
A man was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison with a 3-year suspension for illegally creating explicit images of idol group members, including aespa and NewJeans. The court noted the severity of his actions and the potential for widespread distribution of the images, while also considering mitigating factors such as his lack of prior offenses and no financial gain from the crime.
The advertising company behind NewJeans' 'Ditto', known as Ilka Kidnapping Group, has applied for a suspension of enforcement against ADOR after a court ordered ADOR to pay damages. The court ruled partially in favor of Ilka, ordering ADOR to pay 1 billion won, but dismissed claims against director Shin Woosuk. The case involves disputes over the release of music video content.
Daniel from NewJeans has donated 300 million won to support children in need through the non-profit organization Yana. This comes as he faces legal disputes with ADOR, which has led to the termination of his contract. Daniel expressed his commitment to his fans and the group during a recent live stream.
