ADOR alleges Min Hee-jin actively designed NewJeans contract termination
ADOR told a Seoul court that former CEO Min Hee-jin actively orchestrated NewJeans' contract termination and singled out Danielle's family.
ADOR, the agency of girl group NewJeans, claimed that Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of ADOR and current CEO of OK Records, actively designed the members' attempt to terminate their exclusive contracts from behind the scenes.
ADOR's legal representative made the claim on June 11 during the second hearing in a damages lawsuit before the Seoul Central District Court's Civil Agreement Division 31, presided over by Judge Nam In-su. The representative argued that Min had clearly violated her duty of loyalty as an internal director, as well as her duty of care as a prudent manager, and alleged that she encouraged the termination of the exclusive contracts.
As specific evidence, ADOR submitted SNS conversation records from October 2024. The agency said the exchanges included remarks in which Min told NewJeans' parents that she would personally design a plan so they would not suffer financial disadvantages, and that she would prepare compensation if they left HYBE. ADOR argued that those messages supported its claim that Min actively persuaded and planned for the termination of the exclusive contracts.
ADOR also pointed to the family of former member Danielle, alleging that they played a central role in the process. The agency claimed that, among the parents who allegedly joined Min Hee-jin's unlawful acts, Danielle's parents took the most leading role. ADOR further raised doubts over whether the matter was carried out solely as a decision made by the NewJeans members themselves.
The agency repeated that Danielle's parents had carried significant weight in the case, saying Min had actively led the process and that Danielle's family appeared to have played a substantial coordinating role between Min Hee-jin and the parents, as well as among the members.
ADOR is currently pursuing a damages lawsuit against Danielle, her family, Min Hee-jin and others over alleged breaches of exclusive contracts. The agency has adjusted the amount of its claim from 43.1 billion won to 33.09 billion won.
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