ADOR Reportedly Files A Nearly $30 Million Damages Lawsuit Against Danielle, One Of Her Family Members And Min Hee Jin

The exclusive contract dispute surrounding girl group NewJeans has ultimately expanded into a damage compensation lawsuit worth approximately 43 billion won[around $30 million]. As agency ADOR specified member Danielle, one of her family members, and former CEO Min Hee Jin as defendants and moved to hold them legally responsible, the dispute has entered a new phase.

According to the legal community on the 30^th of December, ADOR filed a lawsuit seeking damages of about 43.1 billion won against Danielle, one family member, and former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. The case has been assigned to the Seoul Central District Court Civil Agreement Division 31. This is the same division that has been hearing the shareholder agreement dispute between HYBE and former CEO Min, meaning related lawsuits are now being handled by a single court.

Through this lawsuit, ADOR stated that it intends to hold legally accountable those who bear significant responsibility for causing the NewJeans exclusive contract dispute, the group’s departure, and delays in their return. In particular, the fact that not only an individual member but also a family member has been included as a target of the damage claim is being viewed as highly unusual.

Previously, the NewJeans members claimed that their contracts had been terminated due to ADOR’s breach of the exclusive contract after their demand for former CEO Min’s reinstatement was not accepted. In contrast, ADOR maintained that the contracts remain valid and filed a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contracts, along with an injunction to block the members’ independent activities. The court accepted this request.

Meanwhile, lawsuits between former CEO Min and HYBE regarding the termination of the shareholder agreement and disputes over put option rights are also being heard by the same division. With the addition of this damage compensation lawsuit, the dispute surrounding NewJeans is expanding beyond individual contract conflicts into a large-scale legal battle.

As significant as the 43 billion won damage claim itself, industry attention is focused on what impact this lawsuit will have on NewJeans’ future activities and on the relationship between former CEO Min Hee Jin and ADOR.

Source: (A)