This case arose following the termination of their exclusive contracts, with Adore asserting their validity.
Daniel has expressed his intention to return through legal counsel, yet Adore has terminated his contract.
Today, the lawsuit initiated by Adore, the agency of New Jeans, against Daniel and former CEO Min Hee-jin for damages of 4.3 billion won will commence at the Seoul Central District Court. This legal dispute arose following the termination of the exclusive contract, wherein Adore claims that Daniel and Min Hee-jin's actions led to the members' departure and delays in their return. The court is set to hold its first preparatory hearing today at 10 AM.
In December of last year, Adore filed a lawsuit for damages against Daniel, his family, and Min Hee-jin. Daniel's side is currently responding to the lawsuit, having appointed legal representation. Notably, the former members of New Jeans unilaterally notified Adore of their contract termination in November 2024.
Adore previously secured a court ruling in October 2022 affirming the validity of their contracts, following which members Haerin and Haein returned. Currently, Minji is in discussions with Adore, while Daniel has expressed his willingness to rejoin through legal counsel. However, Adore chose to terminate the contract with Daniel, prompting this legal conflict.
This legal dispute carries significant implications for the K-pop industry regarding contract issues. The termination of exclusive contracts transcends mere contractual matters, revealing how trust between artists and their agencies can be compromised. Consequently, this case underscores the necessity for greater caution in contract negotiations for other artists.
Moreover, Daniel's willingness to return indicates that, despite previous conflicts, the bond among members remains crucial. However, Adore's strong legal stance illustrates their commitment to upholding contract terms, highlighting industry discussions around how strictly agencies should manage contracts with their artists.
In the post-COVID K-pop landscape, where artist movement has become frequent, the outcome of this lawsuit could significantly affect how contracts are negotiated and terminated in the future. Thus, there is a growing interest in how this case will unfold, prompting industry experts to engage in in-depth discussions on the matter.
This article is KOSTAR’s reinterpretation of a story originally reported by TVDaily.
Photo: TVDaily
