NewJeans Faces Legal Battle as Former Member Daniel Sued for 431 Billion Won in Damages
SEOUL, March 28, 2026 — The ongoing legal dispute between K-pop group NewJeans and their agency ADOR has escalated, with former member Daniel being sued for 431 billion won in damages.
According to reports, the conflict began in November 2024 when NewJeans members attempted to terminate their contracts with ADOR and called for the return of former representative Min Hee-jin. In October 2025, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that all five members must maintain their exclusive contracts with ADOR until 2029, siding with the agency.
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Following the court decision, members Hye-in and Haerin expressed their intent to return to ADOR in November 2025, with Minji, Haerin, and Daniel also announcing similar intentions—though ADOR stated these declarations were made without prior consultation and their authenticity is under verification.
On December 29, 2025, ADOR officially terminated Daniel’s exclusive contract and filed a lawsuit against him and Min Hee-jin, seeking 431 billion won in damages for alleged delays in group activities. As a result, the possibility of NewJeans returning as a five-member group has been dismissed, with the group likely to continue as a four-member lineup consisting of Hani, Minji, Haerin, and Hye-in—although Minji’s contract discussions were reportedly still ongoing at the time.
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Daniel has since maintained contact with fans, emphasizing his enduring dreams and sharing updates on his personal activities in early 2026. The first preparatory hearing for the 431 billion won damages suit took place on March 26, 2026. Daniel’s legal team urged for a speedy trial, arguing that prolonged litigation would cause him significant harm, while ADOR maintained that the lawsuit would not affect his entertainment activities.
Meanwhile, Min Hee-jin previously proposed dropping her claim to 256 billion won in settlement funds if all legal disputes were withdrawn, but ADOR’s parent company HYBE has indicated its intention to continue the lawsuit through appeal.
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As of March 2026, the contractual dispute between NewJeans and ADOR remains unresolved, with the legal proceedings involving former member Daniel drawing significant public attention.
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