Daniel’s Contract Termination Makes a Full-Group Return for NewJeans Impossible; Judgment Set for February

ADOR, NewJeans’ management agency, has notified member Danielle of the termination of her exclusive contract. As a result, a full-group return for NewJeans is no longer possible. On the 12th, Danielle stated in a personal YouTube live broadcast, “I fought to the end to stay with my teammates, and that truth remains with me.”

The current situations of NewJeans’ members vary. Hyein, Haerin, and Hanni have decided to return to ADOR and have already rejoined the agency. Meanwhile, Minzy is still in discussions with ADOR. NewJeans has been on hiatus for over one year and six months since releasing “Super Natural” in 2024, and the group celebrated its fifth anniversary this year.

ADOR notified Danielle of contract termination last December and subsequently filed a lawsuit seeking damages totaling around 43.1 billion won against Danielle, one member of her family, and former ADOR representative Minhee-jin. During recent court hearings, HYBE emphasized that Minhee-jin had provided 21 billion won in support for NewJeans even before the group’s debut.

At the core of the contract termination disputes involving NewJeans’ members lies a shareholder agreement conflict between HYBE and Minhee-jin. HYBE terminated its shareholder agreement with former representative Minhee-jin in July 2024 and removed him from his role as ADOR’s representative as a result. Former representative Minhee-jin then resigned from his position as an internal director at ADOR and notified HYBE of his intention to exercise a put option worth approximately 26 billion won. However, HYBE argued that the put option was invalid because the shareholder agreement had already been terminated in July 2024.

Minhee-jin’s side countered by claiming there was no violation of the shareholder agreement and asserting that HYBE’s termination notice was invalid. On the 28th, former representative Minhee-jin personally submitted a petition, fully denying accusations of attempting to poach NewJeans members. At a press conference held by his legal representatives, he shifted blame for such allegations to a family member of one of the group’s members.

The Civil Division 31 of the Seoul Central District Court is scheduled to deliver its judgment on HYBE’s lawsuit seeking confirmation of the termination of the shareholder agreement against Minhee-jin on February 12th.