Danielle Sued by ADOR for 43.1 Billion Won in Damages

ADOR has filed a lawsuit against former member Danielle, demanding a total of 43.1 billion won in damages. This amount consists of 30 billion won in breach-of-contract penalties and 3.1 billion won for losses resulting from her suspension of activities and failure to complete advertising commitments.

On the morning of December 29, 2025, at a coal delivery volunteer event in Seoul, Danielle, wearing a hat and mask, carried coal for two hours. After the event ended, she distributed cookies and chocolates she had brought while smiling. That very same morning, ADOR filed the lawsuit against Danielle totaling 43.1 billion won.

The amount of the breach-of-contract penalty is directly tied to NewJeans’ financial success. ADOR’s sales in 2023 and 2024 were 110.3 billion won and 111.1 billion won respectively, with all five members of NewJeans being its only artists. The average annual sales per member reached approximately 22 billion won, or about 1.8 billion won per month. According to standard contract terms, the breach-of-contract penalty is calculated by multiplying the average monthly sales from the preceding two years by the remaining contract duration. Multiplying this by the 54 months left until the end of the contract in July 2029 results in a figure of 97.2 billion won.

However, the amount claimed by ADOR is only one-third of the legal maximum limit. Legal experts analyze this as a strategic decision, as courts may invalidate the clause itself if the penalty is deemed excessive.

Although it is the same type of breach-of-contract dispute, the scale differs significantly. ATTRAKT’s claim against three former members of FIFTY FIFTY amounted to 13 billion won, which is less than half of the 43.1 billion won demanded from Danielle alone. The difference stems from variations in sales volume and remaining contract duration. NewJeans’ explosive success has ironically become a hindrance for Danielle.