Danielle Out of NewJeans, Family Member Sued in $29.8M Lawsuit

• ADOR ends Danielle’s NewJeans contract over ongoing legal disputes.
• The company involves a family member of the artist into a new lawsuit.
• Amidst Danielle's departure, fan criticism emerged, highlighting tensions in K-pop’s agency system.

NewJeans member Danielle is now at the center of a freshly brewing legal battle after ADOR, the agency (and HYBE subsidiary) backing the global K-pop group, formally terminated her contract. The action deepens a year-long conflict and has now taken a new turn as ADOR filed a lawsuit against a family member of Danielle. The lawsuit also involves and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, claiming that they played important roles in extending the dispute and delaying NewJeans' return to group activities.

NewJeans Member Danielle’s Contract Terminated

ADOR informed Danielle on Dec 29 that she could no longer continue as a NewJeans member or agency artist due to unresolved difficulties stemming from the group's contractual rights dispute. The move comes after a Seoul Central District Court ruled in October that ADOR's exclusive contracts with members were lawful, reaffirming the agency's enforcement position.

The new ₩ 43.1 billion won ($29.8 million USD) civil lawsuit has been handed over to the Seoul Central District Court's 31st civil division, headed by Judge Nam In-soo. This particular division is also handling a separate, ongoing civil lawsuit worth ₩ 26B between Min and HYBE over a shareholders' agreement.

Industry publication allkpop had earlier noted that attorney Ahn Hee Chul of law firm DLG estimated prospective damages of the lawsuit to be reaching up to ₩ 108 billion (~ $80 million USD) based on ADOR's earnings and the remaining time of her original contract.

Why Was Danielle Ousted from NewJeans?

Fans have questioned why Danielle became the focal point of the conflict. According to industry reports, her open letter supporting former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, in which she professed personal allegiance, was a watershed moment in the debate. ADOR also noted Danielle's family member's "alignment" [with Min Hee-jin], causing the agency to believe that reconciliation was impossible.

Additionally, the agency stated that Danielle ventured into conflicting third-party contracts and pursued independent entertainment work without their permission. As per ADOR claims, these actions violate her exclusive contract.

ADOR nevertheless maintained communication with the other members of the group. The bifurcated approach framed Danielle’s departure as both a legal conclusion and a larger message about the limits of dissent in K-pop's agency system.

Impact on NewJeans’ Lineup and Industry Response

Despite Danielle’s termination shaking up NewJeans' lineup, Hanni has consented to resume operations with ADOR following discussions. However, talks with Minji are still ongoing, while Haerin and Hyein have already returned.

According to industry insiders, fans have criticized HYBE and ADOR for how they handled the conflict. Reportedly, the fans are of the opinion that the contract dispute and Danielle's departure could harm both group cohesion and future earnings.

The NewJeans issue is one of the most serious contract conflicts in K-pop in 2025, with far-reaching implications for artist-agency relationships as K-pop’s international popularity grows.