On December 29, 2025, the South Korean music industry was shaken by a dramatic announcement: Danielle Marsh, a key member of the wildly popular K-pop group NewJeans, would be leaving the group following a contentious legal battle between the group’s management, ADOR (a HYBE subsidiary), and several of its members and their families. The decision, confirmed in statements by ADOR and widely reported by outlets including The Asia Business Daily, Maeil Shinmun, and Yonhap News, marks a new chapter in a saga that has gripped fans and industry insiders for more than a year.
The crux of the conflict dates back to November 2024, when all five members of NewJeans—Haerin, Hyein, Hanni, Minji, and Danielle—unilaterally terminated their contracts with ADOR. The members cited workplace harassment and the abrupt dismissal of former CEO Min Hee-jin as reasons for their departure, according to Asia Business Daily. In the wake of their exit, the group rebranded as NJZ, launched a new Instagram account, and even performed at ComplexCon Hong Kong in March 2025, defying their agency’s wishes.
ADOR responded swiftly, filing for an injunction to halt the group’s independent activities. The Seoul Central District Court sided with the agency in March 2025, imposing a penalty of 1 billion won (roughly $726,800) per member for any unauthorized performances or public appearances. The legal pressure mounted, culminating in a court ruling on October 30, 2025, which reaffirmed the validity of the exclusive contracts binding all five members to ADOR. Despite their legal setback, the group announced on November 12 their intention to return to the agency, signaling a possible reconciliation.
Yet, as the dust settled, it became clear that the return would not be a straightforward reunion. Six weeks before the December 29 announcement, ADOR confirmed that Haerin and Hyein had resolved their differences with the agency and resumed their activities. Negotiations with the remaining three members—Minji, Hanni, and Danielle—were ongoing, but the agency noted that talks had not yet been finalized for all parties.
In the statement released on December 29, ADOR explained, “We decided that it would be difficult for Danielle to continue both as a member of NewJeans and an artist at ADOR, and we have notified her that the contract has been terminated.” The company cited “prolonged exposure of the members to misleading and distorted information about the agency” as the main cause of the dispute, adding, “We found out that the members had been fed continuous and twisted information about the company over an extended period of time.”
While Danielle’s departure was presented as a final decision, ADOR insisted that reconciliation with the remaining members remained a priority. “We agreed that we would need to take the chance to sort out all misunderstandings, even if it takes a long time, in order to fully restore the love from the fans and the public,” the agency stated, emphasizing the need to rebuild trust and understanding.
Hanni, for her part, has chosen to remain with ADOR after returning to Korea and engaging in lengthy discussions with the agency. “Hanni decided to be with Adore in respect of the court’s ruling,” the company said. Talks with Minji are ongoing, with both sides reportedly working to “broaden mutual understanding.” ADOR also promised to provide further explanations regarding the various controversies that arose during the dispute at a later time.
But the fallout from Danielle’s termination extends far beyond the group’s internal dynamics. ADOR has announced plans to pursue legal action against Danielle’s family and former CEO Min Hee-jin, accusing them of instigating the dispute and bearing “grave responsibility not only in our conflict between NewJeans, but the members’ delayed return to the agency.” According to Maeil Shinmun, the agency’s move is seen by some legal experts as a strategic play in an upcoming shareholder lawsuit between HYBE and Min Hee-jin, scheduled for decision in February 2026. “If Hive cites tampering as the reason for terminating Daniel’s exclusive contract, Hive will try to fully utilize this in the lawsuit against former CEO Min,” a lawyer told the newspaper.
HYBE’s approach—what some are calling a policy of “selective contract termination”—has sparked outrage and concern among fans, industry insiders, and cultural commentators. By allowing Hanni and Minji to return while singling out Danielle for termination and legal action, critics argue that the company is undermining the group’s unity and core identity. “You promised fans a ‘full 5-member comeback’, but now you’re just throwing away Danielle? There has to be a standard for keeping some kids with the same conditions and letting others go, but I don’t know if that standard is ‘law’ or ‘feeling,’” one entertainment insider remarked to Maeil Shinmun.
Others see the move as a calculated attempt to weaken solidarity among the group’s members. “It seems that HYBE calculated that rather than taking on the risk that would arise if the five members came together and spoke with one voice, they would forcibly divide the interests and break down the solidarity,” a key official from a smaller entertainment agency explained. The “divide and rule” strategy, as some have called it, is viewed by critics as prioritizing business goals over artists’ rights and well-being.
From a legal perspective, some experts warn that HYBE’s selective treatment of Danielle could backfire. “Hybe’s selective disposition is likely to be adopted by the court as decisive evidence showing Hybe’s ‘lack of will to restore trust’ when determining responsibility for the breakdown of trust,” one lawyer cautioned.
The cultural implications are also significant. A pop culture critic, speaking anonymously, lamented, “NewJeans is not simply a group of five people, but the narrative and relationships they share are at the core of the brand. The way they are using a specific member as an example and taking them to court only shows the arrogance of large corporations that treat K-pop artists as management expendables rather than as individuals.”
Despite the controversy, ADOR insists it will do its utmost to resolve the matter smoothly and enable NewJeans to return to their fans as soon as possible. The agency’s promise to provide a full explanation of the dispute at a future date may offer some clarity, but for now, the future of NewJeans remains uncertain—and for many fans, the group’s much-anticipated “complete” comeback seems further away than ever.
As the K-pop world watches closely, the fate of NewJeans—and the precedent set by this high-profile contract dispute—will likely reverberate throughout the industry for years to come.
