The ongoing legal dispute between ADOR and Danielle escalated once again as both sides clashed in court over allegations of malicious legal tactics, retaliation, and concerns surrounding the idol’s entertainment career.
On May 14, the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Agreement Division 31 held the first hearing regarding ADOR’s ₩43 billion damages lawsuit filed against Danielle, one of her family members, and former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin, who now leads OOAK Records.
Neither Danielle nor Min Hee Jin personally attended the hearing, with only Danielle’s legal representatives appearing in court.
During the proceedings, tensions rose again over accusations that the trial was being intentionally delayed. Danielle’s side argued that ADOR had repeatedly expanded the scope of defendants and added new lawsuits in an attempt to restart legal proceedings multiple times.
Her representatives further claimed that Danielle was being unfairly singled out among the NewJeans members through both the exclusive contract termination dispute and the massive damages claim.
According to Danielle’s legal team, the prolonged litigation appeared designed to prevent the singer from spending her prime years as an idol actively promoting. They criticized ADOR’s actions as “openly malicious” and accused the agency of using the lawsuit to pressure not only Danielle but also indirectly warn the other members.
The legal team representing Min Hee Jin also pushed back against ADOR, arguing that the recent replacement of the agency’s attorneys and procedural changes were being used to place additional pressure on the defendants.
ADOR, however, firmly denied all allegations of intentionally delaying the trial. The agency acknowledged that it had not yet fully submitted its evidence plans but explained that delays occurred because of adjustments made after changing legal representatives.
Earlier this year, ADOR reportedly replaced its previous Kim & Chang legal team with four attorneys from Law Firm Leehan. The company had also requested that the court postpone the preparatory hearing by roughly two months through an official statement, though reports claim the request was rejected by the court.
The conflict intensified further when Danielle’s side accused ADOR of attempting to interfere with her entertainment activities through prolonged legal proceedings.
Her representatives argued that extending the lawsuit could effectively force Danielle to spend the peak of her idol career trapped in legal battles rather than performing and promoting.
ADOR strongly rejected that claim in court, stating that concerns about Danielle’s career interruption were merely “psychological worries” rather than actual restrictions.
The agency emphasized that it had never attempted to block Danielle from working in the entertainment industry and argued that it would be contradictory to claim contract termination while simultaneously insisting the company was preventing activities.
ADOR also argued that Danielle’s promotions would not automatically be restricted while the lawsuit remained ongoing and claimed there was no substantial evidence proving her career had been practically affected.
The company further stated that the current lawsuit differs legally and chronologically from previous shareholder agreement disputes, meaning new claims and evidence would naturally be required throughout the process. ADOR nevertheless added that it intended to cooperate fully to ensure the trial proceeds as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, ADOR notified Danielle last December that her exclusive contract had been terminated due to what the company described as a “serious breach of contract.” The agency has since filed a damages lawsuit worth approximately ₩43 billion against Danielle, one of her family members, and former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin.
Sources: Daum
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