Danielle, former member of K-pop girl group NewJeans, hosts the “2024 Korea on Stage: New Generation” event at Gyeongbok Palace in Jongno District, Seoul, May 21, 2024. Newsis
A trial for the damage suit filed by Ador, a subsidiary of K-pop giant HYBE Labels, against former NewJeans member Danielle and former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin opened on Thursday, showing no end in sight for the dispute that began in 2024.
In December last year, Ador filed the damage suit against the idol, her mother and the label’s former CEO, claiming 43.1 billion won ($28.6 mil.) in compensation for causing delay to the resumption of NewJeans’ activities.
At the preliminary hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court on Thursday, legal representatives of the label and the idol clashed over the pace of the proceedings.
“Danielle is an idol, and this is the most brilliant period of her career,” her legal representatives said accusing Ador of dragging out the case, also pointing to the inclusion of Danielle’s mother in the suit. “If this lawsuit is drawn out, she (Danielle) will inevitably suffer harm. Ador, as an entertainment agency, knows this well.”
Ador’s legal team rejected the characterization, arguing that the lawsuit concerned damages and penalties only and had no bearing on Danielle’s ability to pursue her career. Danielle’s representatives, however, pointed out that any attempt by the idol to resume activities would be met with objections from Ador.
Min Hee-jin, former CEO of K-pop label Ador and founder of Ooak Records, reads a statement at a press conference held at Kyowon Challenge Hall in Jongno District, Seoul, Feb. 25, regarding her first-instance court victory in the 25.6 billion won put option lawsuit against HYBE Labels. Korea Times file photo
Ador filed the lawsuit in December 2025 alongside a notice of contract termination, saying it would hold “one member of Danielle’s family and former CEO Min Hee-jin legally accountable” for playing what it described as a significant role in delaying the group’s activities.
The dispute dates back to November 2024, when the five NewJeans members demanded the reinstatement of Min, who had been dismissed as Ador’s CEO in August of the same year following a conflict with HYBE. When the agency declined, the members claimed through a surprise press announcement that their contracts had been terminated due to Ador’s breach.
Ador countered the claims by filing a suit in December seeking confirmation of the contracts’ validity — a ruling the court ultimately issued in Ador’s favor.
Following the ruling, members Haerin and Hyein announced their return under Ador, with Hanni following shortly after. While Minji still remains in discussions, Danielle was singled out by Ador for contract termination and is now the subject of the damages action.
From left are K-pop girl group NewJeans members Minji, Hyein, Haerin, Hanni and Danielle. Courtesy of Ador
Both sides also touched on the possibility of a settlement during Thursday’s hearing. Ador’s legal team said a resolution was not out of the question, noting that mediation and mutual understanding were natural parts of the litigation process.
Meanwhile, Danielle’s representatives remained skeptical, pointing out that Ador had treated her differently from the other members and that talk of settlement came as a surprise, given the scale of the penalties being sought.
The case is one of several legal proceedings stemming from the broader fallout between HYBE and Min. In February, a Seoul court ruled in the first instance that Min was entitled to receive approximately 25.6 billion won from HYBE in a combined ruling on HYBE’s shareholder agreement termination suit and Min’s stock purchase price claim.
Following the ruling, Min proposed dropping her stock purchase right in exchange for a comprehensive settlement that would clear the way for NewJeans to move forward, to which HYBE has not publicly responded.
The first full hearing in the damages case is scheduled for May 14.