ADOR has filed a lawsuit against Daniel, her family, and former CEO Min Hee-jin for 431 billion won in damages following her departure.
December/30/2025 17:52
ADOR has reportedly filed a lawsuit for damages amounting to 43.1 billion won (approximately 4.3 billion yen) against Daniel, who left NewJeans, one family member of hers, and former ADOR representative Min Hee-jin. Today (30th), according to the legal community, ADOR has filed a lawsuit for breach of contract and damages against Daniel, one family member of hers, and Min Hee-jin. According to reports from Korean media, the claimed amount is about 43.1 billion won, and the case has been assigned to the 31st Civil Agreement Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge: Nam In-soo). This division has previously heard cases related to the termination of shareholder agreements between HYBE and Min Hee-jin and the exercise of put options. The schedule for the initial hearing date has not yet been confirmed. On the 29th, ADOR clarified through an official comment the fact of the termination of the exclusive contract with Daniel. ADOR stated, "Daniel has been judged to be difficult to continue as a member of NewJeans and as an artist belonging to ADOR, and we have notified today of the termination of the exclusive contract," adding, "We plan to hold legal responsibility against one family member of Daniel and former representative Min Hee-jin, who bear significant responsibility for causing this dispute, leading to Daniel's departure from NewJeans and delays in her return." Previously, after former representative Min Hee-jin resigned last November, NewJeans held an emergency press conference, claiming that the exclusive contract would be terminated as of 0:00 on November 29 of the same year, expressing their intention for independent activities. In response, ADOR filed a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract, and the court accepted ADOR's claims. Members Hae-rin and Hae-in were reported to return to ADOR last month, while Hani returned on the 29th. Min-ji is currently in a state of ongoing negotiations. Min Hee-jin has established a new planning company and is moving in a different direction.
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ADOR has launched legal action against individuals making malicious posts about its artists, including harassment and defamation. They are actively monitoring social media and music platforms, collecting evidence, and have involved external experts for serious cases. Additionally, they are cooperating with authorities on deepfake crimes. The company emphasizes its commitment to protecting artists' rights and has announced the termination of Daniel's contract due to his family's involvement in recent disputes, while Hani has decided to return to the group after a respectful dialogue with ADOR.
ADOR announced it has filed a lawsuit against Daniel for breach of contract after terminating his exclusive contract with NewJeans. They cited violations related to independent activities and damage to the group's reputation. Meanwhile, discussions continue with other members, including Hani's return and ongoing talks with Minji.
