When NewJeans first debuted in 2022, they gained immediate industry recognition. Their EP, OMG, hit almost 900 million streams, signaling one of the fastest rises in the industry in just over a year. They’ve continued to grow, exceeding 25 million monthly listeners on Spotify by August 2023, leading 4th gen girl groups by millions. Based in South Korea, the 5 member group, Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein debuted under ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE. Along with winning many Daesang awards and Artist of the Year & Song of the Year at the 2023 MAMA Awards, the group’s rapid growth drew increased attention to its management and contract structure.
To understand the legal dispute between ADOR and NewJeans, it is necessary to first examine the events that led up to it.
HYBE VS. ADOR
April 2024: HYBE’s internal investigation
The legal dispute began in April 2024 when HYBE launched an internal investigation into ADOR (one of HYBE’s smaller branches) to review how ADOR’s management practices were being run, claiming that ADOR’s leaders may have failed to follow HYBE’s practices and proper management. More specifically, HYBE claimed that ADOR’s CEO, Min Hee-jin, had plotted to gain full ownership of NewJeans and take the group independent. After HYBE began to remove Min, Min filed for a court injunction to temporarily stop HYBE from removing her while the dispute was under review.
May 2024: Court decision
In May 2024, all 5 members of Newjeans filed their legal plea, refuting HYBE’s internal investigation to remove Min Hee-jin as CEO. As a result, a Seoul court granted Min Hee-jin’s injunction as HYBE did not exhibit enough proof that Min’s actions caused harm to the company. Min maintained her position, and ADOR’s management structure remained the same.
July 2024: Danielle’s letter
Danielle, a current member of Newjeans at the time, wrote a handwritten letter to Min Hee-jin, referring to Min as “Mom,” and “a Warrior.” She wrote, “My beloved CEO…there is no one like you in this world. You are the protector and our family.” This letter represents the strong bond between Danielle and Min Hee-jin, foreshadowing the reasons behind her later contract termination.
New Jeans Members Wish to Terminate Their Contract
August and September 2024: Min Hee-jin loses CEO position, Members break the silence
In August 2024, HYBE officially removed Min Hee-jin as a CEO of ADOR. However, let her remain as NewJeans’ producer.
As a result, Newjeans broadcasted a surprise livestream in September explaining their worries in terms of HYBE’s management. In the livestream, the members expressed concerns of workplace harassment, leaking of private information, and being told by another HYBE group’s manager to “ignore” them. Hanni, a member of Newjeans even stated, “They monitor our every move. We’ve found hidden cameras in practice rooms and had our phones accessed without permission.”
November 2024: Emergency press conference
On November 13th 2024, NewJeans members held an emergency press conference meeting without letting ADOR know. In the meeting, the group members said,
“The reason we are leaving ADOR is very simple…NewJeans is an artist of ADOR, and ADOR is obligated to protect NewJeans. It is the most basic obligation that an agency has,” the group said, “ADOR does not have the will or ability to protect NewJeans. If we remain here, it will be a waste of our time, and our mental distress will continue.” All five members signed the termination notice. The contracts would be terminated as of Nov. 29, 2024, at 12:00 a.m. KST.
ADOR responded by saying that the members’ trust issues does not justify a contract termination. “A unilateral claim that trust has been broken does not constitute valid grounds for termination of a contract.”
December 2024: ADOR files lawsuit against Newjeans members, Newjeans collapse
On December 5, ADOR announced that it had filed a lawsuit to “confirm the validity of the exclusive contract,” that NewJeans signed when they first debuted, aiming to ensure continued legal enforcement and prevent NewJeans from leaving the agency.
“Although we did not wish to seek legal intervention with the artist, we decided that it was necessary to clarify to both the artist and all relevant stakeholders that our exclusive contract cannot be unilaterally terminated based solely on the claims of one side,” ADOR said. “We aim to have this clearly established in court.” ADOR also argued the members had signed a standard seven-year exclusive contract that was set to expire in 2029, and that the members couldn’t leave in 2024.
Shortly after ADOR announced the lawsuit, on December 6, NewJeans released a statement responding to the legal action. In the statement, the members said, “Our trust in ADOR and HYBE, who have repeatedly violated contract terms and failed to fulfill their duty to protect their artists, has already collapsed. According to the terms of our exclusive contracts, there is no longer any reason for us to continue working with ADOR and HYBE.” They added, “The exclusive contract clearly states that if ADOR fails to fulfill its contractual obligations, we have the right to terminate the contract. Forcing us to work for another five years despite this breakdown in trust and contract violations is not only unreasonable but also inhumane.”
“We did not violate our exclusive contracts, and we have never violated them. Until now, we have been putting in our full effort to carry out our activities, so we think that there is no reason for us to pay penalties. Actually, the current ADOR and HYBE violated the contracts, leading to this current situation, so we believe the current ADOR and HYBE are the ones who are responsible.”
The members further alleged in the statement that “managers and performance directors” who are assisting them with commitments scheduled prior to the contract termination “are being severely harassed.”
March 2025: Seoul Central District Court sides with ADOR on injunction request – Newjeans at a halt
On March 21, the Seoul Central District Court approved ADOR’s preliminary injunction request, meaning that members will not be able to sign “any advertising contracts independently—or through any third party—without ADOR’s approval,” the company said.
The court approved “indirect compulsory execution measures,” meaning that it is now required that each member pay 1 billion won (approximately $699,000) to ADOR for each time they engage in public entertainment activities without company approval. The court also ruled that all five members remain bound to ADOR until their contract ends in 2029.
During Newjean’s last performance on March 23rd 2025, the members Danielle and Hanni told the crowd, “This stage means so much to us and every single one of you who gives us strength just by being here. It is really hard for us to say this, but this might be our last performance for a little while. Out of respect for the court’s decision, we’ve decided to pause all our activities for now. It wasn’t an easy decision, but we believe this is something we need to do at this moment.”
Just a week before the approved injunction, 30,000 New Jeans fans signed a petition requesting ADOR’s injunction request be rejected.
December 29, 2025: 5 member group turns 4 – Danielle’s contract removed
On December 29th, devastation hit all the fans across the world. ADOR had terminated Danielle’s exclusive contract. “In Danielle’s case, we determined that it would be difficult to continue together as a NewJeans member and an ADOR artist, and today we notified her of the termination of her exclusive contract,” ADOR stated during a court hearing.
Newjeans member Danielle Marsh had been permanently removed from the group, meaning that under no circumstances can Danielle return during the time period of the exclusive contract. On the 30th, ADOR also confirmed they will be suing a family member of Danielle’s and former CEO of ADOR, Min Hee-jin, $30 million for alleged damages for alleged breach of contract.
But why Danielle specifically?
1. Danielle’s close bond to former CEO Min Hee-jin
Referring to Danielle’s “Mom” letter in July 2024, ADOR didn’t want to keep carrying a member that publicly expressed siding with Min Hee-jin.
2. Alleged contract breaches
The agency stated that Danielle allegedly violated her exclusive agreement to not go public. During the time of legally required privacy, Danielle ran marathons with several other celebrities, along with attending Charity events for her fans all without ADOR’s permission.
3. Family stance
ADOR announced that they plan to sue a member of Danielle’s family who represents a different dynamic rather than Hyein’s situation whereas her father was documented in court supporting her return to ADOR.
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