Former NewJeans member Danielle / Xportsnews
Danielle, the former NewJeans member embroiled in a contract dispute with her agency, has been spotted in public overseas for the first time in weeks, prompting an outpouring of fan support online.
A short video posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, on March 1 showed Danielle at the Tokyo Marathon venue in Japan. The poster said the woman in a white cap and sunglasses was Danielle, while the man beside her in a green jacket was actor Lee Si-woo.
Danielle holds a South Korean flag in one hand and a white banner in the other while looking toward the camera. She is known for her enthusiasm for running and has previously participated in the celebrity running crew “Unknown” alongside singer Sean. She reportedly attended the event to cheer on runners, including Sean.
Fans reacted warmly, writing comments such as “We support you,” “So happy to see her smiling,” and “Hope she returns soon.”
NewJeans, then a five-member girl group / Xportsnews
Danielle was removed from NewJeans in December after agency ADOR terminated her exclusive contract and filed a 43.1 billion won ($32.3 million) damages and penalty lawsuit against her, a family member and former CEO Min Hee-jin. Danielle has appointed legal counsel and is contesting the move.
She recently opened a personal social media account and has been communicating with fans through livestreams and letters. In one message, she said, “I fought until the end to stay with the members. They are part of me,” adding, “Even if we stand in different places, we are still one Bunnies at heart.”
Meanwhile, HYBE said it will continue legal proceedings after losing the first trial in a shareholder contract dispute. Min later proposed giving up the 25.6 billion won she was awarded in that ruling in exchange for HYBE dropping all civil and criminal cases involving NewJeans.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.