ADOR's $28.7M damages suit against Min Hee-jin, ex-NewJeans member to begin later this month
Published: 09 Mar. 2026, 17:52
Updated: 09 Mar. 2026, 19:33
![Girl group NewJeans poses for a photo at a red carpet event at Incheon Inspire Arena in Incheon on Dec. 15, 2024. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/09/876cc7fe-c126-4714-b72f-1c9307e3af61.jpg)
Girl group NewJeans poses for a photo at a red carpet event at Incheon Inspire Arena in Incheon on Dec. 15, 2024. [NEWS1]
A 43 billion won ($28.7 million) damages suit filed by ADOR against a former member of girl group NewJeans, Danielle, her family member and former CEO Min Hee-jin is set to begin on March 26.
The Seoul Central District Court's Civil Division 31 will hold the first preparatory hearing in the damages suit filed by ADOR against Danielle's side and Min at 10 a.m. on March 26.
The same division sided with Min in the first trial of her suit against HYBE over put-option proceeds in February, ordering the company to buy Min's shares of 25.6 billion won.
ADOR, a HYBE label, declared the termination of its exclusive contract with Danielle in December last year and filed the damages suit amid its contract dispute with NewJeans.
The agency is holding Danielle’s side and Min legally accountable for causing the current dispute and delaying NewJeans's departure and return to the agency.
![Min Hee-jin, former ADOR CEO and founder of ooak records, attends a press conference in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Feb. 25. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/09/11ad2ffa-fa15-4123-8f4e-26525d64af58.jpg)
Min Hee-jin, former ADOR CEO and founder of ooak records, attends a press conference in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Feb. 25. [NEWS1]
Earlier, the NewJeans members demanded the reinstatement of Min and other measures after her dismissal following HYBE’s conflict with the former CEO. When those demands were not met, the group said in November 2024 that its exclusive contracts with ADOR had been terminated because the agency had violated its terms.
In response, ADOR filed a suit in December 2025 to confirm that the contracts remained valid. Later, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that the exclusive contracts between ADOR and NewJeans were still in effect.
Min then held a press conference in February and proposed giving up the 25.6 billion won in put-option proceeds in exchange for HYBE dropping all civil and criminal disputes involving her and NewJeans.
“Please create an environment in which all five can come together and freely pursue their dreams,” she said, calling for the agency to support all five members, including Danielle.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY PARK JONG-SUH [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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