ADOR, the agency for NewJeans, has lowered the damages it seeks in its lawsuit against Danielle and former ADOR chief Min Hee-jin by about 10 billion won. The adjustment comes as new legal counsel reviewed the case and restructured the claims.
According to legal sources on the 5th, ADOR recently adjusted the damages it seeks in its lawsuit against Danielle, one of Danielle's family members, and the former chief Min from about 43.09 billion won to around 33.09 billion won. Min currently serves as head of ooak Records.
Recently, the attorneys from KIM&CHANG, ADOR's former counsel, resigned, and ADOR then appointed attorneys from the law firm Rihan as new counsel. An ADOR representative said, "With new counsel appointed, we reviewed the case and restructured the claims, and accordingly partially adjusted and changed the claimed amount," adding, "We will continue to bolster our arguments and evidence as the case proceeds."
The lawsuit serves as a follow-up procedure to the NewJeans exclusive contract dispute. In Dec. last year, ADOR filed a damages suit against Danielle, her family, and the former chief Min, saying it would hold them legally responsible for NewJeans' departure and delayed return.
Earlier, NewJeans members demanded the return of the former chief Min, who was dismissed after a conflict with HYBE, but when that was rejected, they began independent activities in Nov. 2024, claiming their contract had been terminated due to ADOR's breach of the exclusive contract. In Dec. the same year, ADOR filed a suit seeking confirmation that the exclusive contract with NewJeans remained valid. In Oct. last year, the court of first instance ruled in favor of ADOR, and as the NewJeans members did not appeal, the ruling was finalized. The members then, in turn, expressed their intent to return.
However, in Dec. last year, ADOR terminated the exclusive contract with Danielle, saying she could no longer continue as a NewJeans member. Of the NewJeans members, three except Min-ji and Danielle have decided to return to ADOR, and Min-ji is reportedly negotiating specific terms for her return.
In connection with this damages suit, ADOR is also said to have sought a provisional attachment of real estate from Danielle's family and the former chief Min. The court reportedly granted provisional attachment of real estate up to 2 billion won for Danielle's mother and up to 5 billion won for the former chief Min. Provisional attachment is a court measure that temporarily freezes assets to prevent a debtor from hiding or disposing of property. A creditor can apply for it to preserve a debtor's assets in preparation for future compulsory execution.