ADOR has appointed new lawyers for its legal battle with NewJeans' Daniel, following the resignation of its previous legal team.
May/12/2026 19:06
ADOR has appointed new legal representatives for the lawsuit with NewJeans' Daniel. According to an interview with Newsen today (12th), ADOR recently teamed up with four lawyers from the law firm Rihan for the legal dispute with Daniel. This comes about three weeks after five lawyers from Kim & Chang, who had been representing ADOR, submitted their resignation on April 24. With the submission of a new lawyer appointment notice and a request for a change of date, the first trial is scheduled to take place on the 14th at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District. Rihan is the law firm representing Bang Si-hyuk, the chairman of HYBE. Chairman Bang, along with other HYBE executives, was accused of violating capital market laws last July and has been summoned for questioning multiple times by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Financial Crimes Investigation Team. NewJeans announced an emergency press conference on November 29, 2024, stating that their trust in ADOR has completely broken down and they can no longer operate as part of ADOR. In response, ADOR filed a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contracts with the members, and the first trial court ruled in favor of ADOR. Heerin and Haein expressed their intention to return through ADOR after sufficient discussions on November 12 last year. Subsequently, Hani confirmed her return to ADOR on December 29 last year. The three were spotted in Copenhagen, Denmark, in mid-April. Following this, photos related to Minji's birthday cafe were published on NewJeans' official SNS, raising expectations for a comeback with four members. In this regard, ADOR stated to Newsen on May 7, "We are continuing internal discussions regarding future activities. We are currently not in a position to provide specific details. We hope you understand that discussions are generally progressing positively." In contrast, the legal conflict between Daniel and ADOR is ongoing. After notifying Daniel of the termination of his exclusive contract on December 29 last year, ADOR filed a lawsuit for breach of contract and damages amounting to 43.1 billion won (approximately 4.3 billion yen) against Daniel and others. ADOR claims that the termination notice was unavoidable due to Daniel's breach of contract. Furthermore, on January 23, ADOR applied for a provisional seizure of real estate owned by Daniel's mother and Min Hee-jin, with a total claim amount confirmed to be about 7 billion won (approximately 700 million yen), with Daniel's mother being responsible for 2 billion won (approximately 200 million yen) and former ADOR representative Min Hee-jin for 5 billion won (approximately 500 million yen).
Related Articles
Daniel from NewJeans was recently spotted at church, smiling and speaking into a microphone. This comes as he continues legal battles with ADOR over a contract dispute, with ADOR seeking 431 billion won in damages. Meanwhile, other members express their intent to return to ADOR, while Minji is still in negotiations.
On the morning of the 16th, Park Bo-gum and Jinusean's Sean participated in the 2026 TNF 100 KOREA international trail running event in Gangwon-do, Gangneung. Park Bo-gum completed his first 10km marathon, and Sean shared a commemorative photo, praising the experience as 'very wonderful.'
Min Hee-jin and BELIFT LAB are embroiled in a legal battle regarding accusations of copying NewJeans. The court proceedings have highlighted the conflicting narratives from both parties, with Min Hee-jin claiming her comments were made under duress, while BELIFT LAB argues they were made for personal gain. The court has called for a swift resolution, emphasizing the complexity of the case.
NewJeans' Haerin celebrated her birthday with a series of captivating photos shared by ADOR, showcasing her unique charm. Fans are excited about her potential comeback, especially after recent contract developments. ADOR confirmed that the members are preparing for new activities, hinting at a fresh musical direction for NewJeans.
Daniel of NewJeans has criticized ADOR for delaying court proceedings in a lawsuit against him and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin. He claims this is an attempt to hinder his career and demands strong sanctions. ADOR counters that these concerns are unfounded. The legal battle continues with significant implications for both parties.
Min Hee-jin, CEO of ooak records, will speak at a Gwangju event on May 18, marking the 46th anniversary of the democratization movement. Despite ongoing legal issues with HYBE, she will discuss K-Culture's significance in relation to democracy and human rights. The event will also feature a Q&A session with Professor Park Gyu-young.
NewJeans has been sued in the US for copyright infringement regarding their song 'How Sweet.' The lawsuit claims they used elements from a demo by composer Audrey Amacost and others without permission. Their agency, ADOR, firmly denies the allegations, stating that there was no plagiarism and plans to respond to the lawsuit accordingly.
Daniel from NewJeans recently revealed a donation of 10 million won to support single-parent families for Lunar New Year. ADOR announced the termination of his contract due to ongoing legal disputes, holding Daniel and his family responsible for the situation. Recent news shows that all five lawyers representing ADOR have resigned, raising further interest in the case.
ADOR has clarified that discussions regarding Minji's future activities are ongoing, emphasizing a positive direction. Following her birthday celebrations, where she received gifts from fans, speculation about her return to NewJeans has increased. However, it remains clear that decisions about her activities are still under discussion.
Minji from NewJeans recently shared updates with fans, visiting a birthday cafe on May 7. She brought homemade cookies and heartfelt letters, expressing her love for her fans, the Bunnies. Amidst ongoing contract disputes with her agency, Minji remains hopeful for future interactions and appreciates the support from her fans.
