NewJeans Wins Partial Victory in Lawsuit Against Sexual Harassment YouTube Creator; Judgment for 29 Million Won Compensation Finalized

K-pop group NewJeans has received a partial victory in a damages lawsuit it filed against a YouTube creator who sexually harassed them. The Civil Division 13 of the Seoul Western District Court ruled in favor of the five members of NewJeans in their lawsuit against YouTube creator A. The court ordered A to pay 5 million won each to Minzy, Hani, and Danielle, and 7 million won each to Hyein and Haerin. With the appeal period having expired, the judgment requiring a total payment of 29 million won was finalized last month on the 22nd. In 2024, A operated two YouTube channels and created over 20 videos that sexually harassed NewJeans by altering their performance footage. In those videos, A was accused of referring to NewJeans’ song “Cookie” as “thickness” and making sexually demeaning remarks such as “I want to make you a mother of multiple kids.” ADOR filed criminal charges against A in June last year and also initiated a damages lawsuit seeking a total of 100 million won, with 20 million won claimed per member. NewJeans is currently involved in a legal dispute over its exclusive contract with agency ADOR, and the mediation hearing for determining the validity of that contract is scheduled for the 14th. NewJeans debuted as a five-member girl group in 2022 and gained massive popularity at home and abroad with debut songs like “Attention” and “Hype Boy,” as well as tracks such as “Ditto” and “Super Shy.”