A big legal battle involving New JeansFormer member Danielle Marsh will begin on March 26, as ADOR pursues a massive ₩43.1 billion damages lawsuit against Danielle, her mother, and former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. As the legal battle enters a new phase, the central question raised by ADOR appears unchanged: who orchestrated the surrounding conflict New Jeans?
Although Danielle has chosen confrontation rather than staying with ADOR, the legal battle that awaits her will be anything but easy. Even if she ultimately wins in court, the fact that the company has identified her as a central figure in the so-called “NewJeans dispute” could weigh heavily on her career. In the rapidly evolving girl group market, where time between comebacks is crucial, prolonged legal proceedings could significantly limit its ability to continue normal operations.
Danielle and her mother have already appointed a legal team, signaling their determination to respond fully to the requests. However, lawsuits of this magnitude in the entertainment industry typically take years to conclude. During that time, Danielle may face restrictions on promotions and appearances.
If the court rules against her in the worst-case scenario, Danielle could be left alone to face a financial penalty of around ₩30 billion. This would mark the largest criminal case in the history of the Korean entertainment industry. The previous record was ₩13 billion asked by ATTRAKT from three former members of Fifty-fifty.
Legal observers note that the case may not be favorable for Danielle based on previous court decisions related to the New Jeans dispute. In a ruling last year, the court broadly rejected the reasons given by the five members for terminating their exclusivity contracts, concluding that none of the arguments presented were sufficient grounds for terminating the contract. During that trial, the court also mentioned that former CEO Min Hee Jin had explored independence from the company. Unless Danielle, her mother and Min present new evidence to support allegations of wrongdoing by ADOR, their legal position could remain difficult.
Another factor that makes the case particularly complex is the involvement of a family member of the artist as a defendant. ADOR considers Danielle’s mother a key collaborator allegations that Min Hee Jin attempted to “tamper” a term often used in the industry to describe attempts to lure artists away from their agency. The company alleges that she played a major role in the group’s departure and the delay in their return to operations.
According to ADOR, damages claimed include losses caused by New Jeans‘ departure and delay in their activities. The amount requested by Danielle’s mother and Min Hee Jin is reportedly around ₩10 billion.
ADOR’s argument centers on the idea that the movements of New Jeans members were influenced by organized involvement behind the scenes. The key question in the trial will be whether this has been asserted “theory of mind” can be proven in court. It is extremely rare for a celebrity’s family member to be named as a defendant in such a dispute, making the case even more unusual.
Among the people involved, Min Hee Jin may be facing the most complicated situation. It recently won the first trial in a separate put option lawsuit, which awarded it the right to receive approximately ₩25.6 billion. However, HYBE immediately appealed the ruling. Although Min Hee Jin said she will not accept the money, HYBE has shown no intention of withdrawing the case.
As a result, despite winning the initial trial, Min now faces ongoing legal risks. To secure the ₩25.6 billion payment, the appeals process would have to continue, while further lawsuits filed by HYBE and its labels against her reportedly exceed ₩46 billion.
Perhaps the biggest burden on Min Hee Jin is the possibility of responsibility for him New Jeans The dispute will be discussed in detail during the legal proceedings. Currently, Danielle, her mother, and Min Hee Jin all place the blame on ADOR. However, there is no guarantee that their positions will remain aligned throughout the legal process. If each side begins to defend itself separately, the direction of the case could become even more unpredictable.
ADOR has consistently supported him “Min Hee Jin engineered the situation.” By naming all three individuals as defendants in the lawsuit, the company appears to be reinforcing the narrative that the controversy was orchestrated behind the scenes. Observers believe ADOR can argue that Min Hee Jin planned the strategy, that Danielle’s mother helped carry it out, and that Danielle was at the forefront.
Both Danielle and Min Hee Jin share a major disadvantage: the longer the legal battle drags on, the more it could damage their future. Danielle faces potential restrictions on her idol activities, while Min Hee Jin may see risks impacting the growth of her new label, OOAK Records.
Sources: Daum
