ADOR vs. Danielle: NewJeans Group Comeback Delay Becomes Key Issue in $24M Lawsuit

ADOR and former NewJeans member Danielle clashed in court over why the group's full-member activities remain on hold, a central question in ADOR's roughly 33 billion won (about $22 million) damages suit against her. Danielle's side argued that if the delay stems from ADOR's own production shortcomings, the scope of her liability should shift. ADOR pushed back, saying the group's return is being held up because of Danielle herself.

The Seoul Central District Court's 31st Civil Division, led by presiding judge Nam In-soo, held the fifth hearing in the case at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. The suit names Danielle, her family, and Min Hee-jin, the current head of OK Records and former ADOR chief executive.

At the hearing, Danielle's legal team called for a review of ADOR's actual ability to produce NewJeans activities and asked the company to disclose its future plans for the group. "ADOR said during earlier litigation that it would support the members' activities, and nearly a year has passed since most of the members returned to the label, yet no concrete activity plan has emerged," her attorney said. "If activities have not taken place because ADOR lacks the production capacity, then the scope of Danielle's damages liability for any breach of duty should also change."

ADOR rejected the claim that no return is in the works. "The gap caused by Danielle may delay the resumption of group activities, but that does not mean there is no plan for activities at all," the company's attorney said. "There is no legal obligation to submit an activity plan to the defendants in advance."

The court suggested a middle path. "If ADOR's accounting records, which the court-appointed expert has requested, include costs spent on preparing for NewJeans group activities, that could reasonably be reflected in the expert's review," the bench said, telling both sides to consider whether the books alone could confirm the necessary information without a separate activity plan.

ADOR also raised concerns about protecting trade secrets, noting that the defendants work in the same industry. "It should be enough to give the defendants a chance to confirm that unaltered documents have been handed over to the expert," the company's attorney said. The court proposed that the sensitive portions of the records be redacted and reviewed with the defendants' accountant present. The bench also asked both sides to submit written filings clearly laying out which specific acts by Danielle amount to "refusal to perform the contract" following her declaration that the deal was terminated.

The dispute traces back to November 2024, when the NewJeans members declared their exclusive contracts with ADOR terminated after Min Hee-jin stepped down as an internal director. The members then entered a legal fight with the label. After the court denied their injunction request and later ruled against them in the first-instance trial, most of the members began the process of returning to the company. Haerin and Hyein returned to the label in November of last year, followed by Hanni in December. Minji is still in talks with ADOR over the specific terms of her return. Danielle, by contrast, had her exclusive contract terminated by ADOR.

The next hearing is set for October 20 at 3:30 p.m.