NewJeans

NewJeans, which debuted as a five-member girl group, has effectively become a four-member act three-and-a-half years after its launch, with the possibility of shrinking to three members still open as Minji’s return to agency Ador remains unresolved. With the group’s long-anticipated comeback expected later this year, attention is now focused on how the reconfigured team will move forward. All five members said late last year that they intended to return to Ador, bringing an end to their legal dispute with the agency. That marked a reversal about a year after they had moved to terminate their exclusive contracts in November 2024 and pursue independent activities. Since their debut, NewJeans had produced a string of megahits including “Attention,” “Hype Boy,” “Super Shy,” “Bubble Gum” and “Ditto,” quickly rising to the top of the K-pop scene. But just over two years into their career, their contract dispute with Ador halted new releases, even though the group continued to appear at year-end awards shows and on various stages for a time. The conflict eventually went

The legal dispute between Belift Lab and former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin over plagiarism allegations involving girl groups Illit and NewJeans escalated Friday, as both sides sharply disagreed over whether Min’s public remarks constituted defamation or protected opinion. During the fifth hearing of a damages lawsuit held at the Seoul Central District Court, Belift Lab argued that Min’s plagiarism claims amounted to a calculated attempt to damage the company and its artists through what it described a

U.S. YouTuber MrBeast, the world’s most-subscribed-to creator, has unexpectedly found himself drawn into a K-pop fan campaign after fans of NewJeans began flooding his social media posts with pleas to “save” member Danielle — even urging him to buy K-pop giant HYBE. The campaign comes from NewJeans’ fans, known as Bunnies, who claim that Danielle is being “attacked” by the group’s label, Ador. In recent days, fans have mass-posted hashtags and messages across MrBeast’s TikTok and Instagram accounts, asking him to intervene or draw attention to the dispute. The reason his account became the target, fans say, is not because he has any direct link to the situation — but because he is wealthy, globally visible and impossible to ignore online. Some comments went as far as asking him to acquire HYBE, NewJeans’ parent company, despite the obvious impossibility of such a move. One fan said the point was exposure rather than feasibility. “We know MrBeast cannot buy HYBE, but that is not the core idea,” the fan said. “What Bunnies want is attention and visibility. Even

Two days after Danielle was removed from NewJeans following the termination of her contract with Ador, the singer has remained silent — offering no official statements or explanations in response to the agency’s decision. Her silence has also added to fan anxiety, as questions continue to mount over what lies ahead for NewJeans and Danielle, whose future has remained uncertain since the contract dispute between the group and the agency began in November 2024. While Ador outlined its reasons for

NewJeans’ label Ador has filed a damages suit worth over 43 billion won ($29.7 million) against former group member Danielle, her family member and ex-CEO Min Hee-jin, according to local reports citing legal sources on Tuesday. According to reports, a civil lawsuit was filed by Ador to the Seoul Central District Court the day before, listing the three individuals as defendants. The total amount claimed reportedly reaches up to 43.09 billion won. Ador was unavailable for comment as of press time.

More than a year after a contract dispute first erupted between K-pop girl group NewJeans and its agency Ador, tensions have reignited just as hopes for reconciliation appeared within reach. Although all five members expressed a desire to return to the agency following a court ruling that upheld their exclusive contracts, Ador has now terminated its agreement with member Danielle and filed a lawsuit seeking damages — a move that undermines the possibility of a full-group comeback and raises concerns about coercive tactics in the K-pop industry. In a statement released Monday, Ador said it determined that it would be "difficult to continue" Danielle’s activities as a member of NewJeans and confirmed that it submitted a complaint the same day seeking compensation for damages. The agency did not disclose the amount being claimed, nor specify the contractual grounds for the termination. The decision follows an Oct. 30 court ruling that confirmed the validity of exclusive contracts between Ador and all five NewJeans members, a judgment that placed the agency in a legally advantageous pos

Ador, the agency behind K-pop girl group NewJeans, has filed a massive damages lawsuit against member Danielle following its move to terminate her exclusive contract — and the case has been assigned to the same Seoul court division that previously handled the high-profile legal battle between HYBE and former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin. According to Korean outlet Newsis on Tuesday, the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 31 has been assigned to hear Ador’s lawsuit seeking contract penalties and damages from Danielle, a member of her family and Min. The company is demanding about 43.1 billion won ($31 million) in compensation. The date for the first hearing has not yet been set, the report said. Ador announced Monday that it had notified Danielle of contract termination, saying it had determined that continuing with her as a NewJeans member and Ador artist was no longer possible. The company also said it intends to pursue legal responsibility against one of Danielle’s family members and Min, claiming they played a major role in triggering the dispute and delaying the group’s

K-pop fans were left stunned after Ador — the label behind girl group NewJeans — notified member Danielle that she is being removed from the group, while signaling its plans to pursue legal action over alleged contract violations. Lawyers in Korea say the financial penalties tied to the dispute could exceed 100 billion won ($74 million) under industry-standard formulas. Ador said on Monday that it had "determined it is difficult to continue with Danielle as a NewJeans member and Ador artist," adding that it had notified her of contract termination. The company also said it intends to "hold legally accountable" a member of Danielle’s family and former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin, whom it claims played a role in triggering the dispute and delaying the group’s return. Although Ador did not disclose a specific penalty figure, Korean legal commentators say the potential sum could be enormous. According to attorney Ahn Hee-chul of law firm DLG, who recently discussed the case on a YouTube show, damages in standard Korean entertainment contracts are typically calculated by multiplying an artis

SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) -- K-pop label ADOR said Monday that NewJeans member Han...