NewJeans member Danielle sued for millions after bitter feud with K-pop record label | K-pop
K-pop record label Ador announced it is suing a former member of mega-band NewJeans for millions in damages, a day after the group kicked him out of the group following a year-long dispute over allegations he tried to get out of a contract over alleged mistreatment.
The damages suit against 20-year-old Australian-born singer Danielle Marsh comes months after a Seoul district court ruled that five members of NewJeans must honor their contracts with Ador, whose parent company Hybe is also behind K-pop sensation BTS. The group’s contract runs until 2029.
Ador is also suing an unnamed member of Danielle’s family and the group’s former producer, Min Hee-jin, for damages, claiming that they both bear “substantial responsibility in causing this dispute and NewJeans’ departure and delayed return” as part of the penalty for terminating the contract.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that the total amount sought from the three men was approximately 43.1 billion won (US$30 million, £22 million, AU$45 million).
NewJeans made headlines in November 2024 when it announced its decision to separate from Ador, leading the company to seek an injunction barring them from any business activities. This request was granted in March.
The label said in a statement on Monday that Danielle’s contract was terminated because “it was determined that it would be difficult for her to continue as an artist under Ador’s management.”
The company claimed that NewJeans members were “consistently exposed to distorted and biased information,” leading to “significant misunderstandings.”
The Guardian has reached out to Danielle for comment.
According to Ador, three of the four remaining members of the group have decided to stay with the company, while member Minji is still in talks with the company.
NewJeans, which made its debut in 2022, is among Hybe’s most successful performances. After the lawsuit against Danielle was announced, fans chanted “NewJeans five or nothing” on social media.
The dramatic contract dispute erupted last year following allegations that Hybe had sacked the band’s producer Min as Ador’s CEO.
NewJeans members then issued an ultimatum demanding Min’s reinstatement, but Hybe refused. The members later went public with their grievances, claiming that the company deliberately harmed their careers.
Vietnamese-Australian band member Hanni Pham claimed she was subjected to mistreatment, including “deliberate miscommunication and manipulation”, while working with the band’s record label. She gave an emotional statement about the allegations before the South Korean parliament in October, saying: “I know this will not solve all the problems in the world, but if we respect each other, at least there will be no problems with bullying and harassment in the workplace.”
Danielle also claimed that while she was a trainee at one of the idol training camps, she was constantly under surveillance and all meals had to be approved by management; Neither Ador nor Hybe responded to this claim.
In October, the Seoul Central district court rejected NewJeans’ claims that the allegations caused an “irreparable breach of trust” with Ador.
Weeks later, South Korea’s labor ministry also dismissed Pham’s workplace bullying complaint against Ador, stating that the members were “excepted entities” and not legally employees of Ador.
The controversy sparked panic in the K-pop industry and fueled debate over K-pop stars’ labor rights. a situation in which they are legally denied.
Joint statement to Time magazine After an injunction was granted against them, the group said: “It feels as if Korea wants to turn us into revolutionaries.”
In November, Ador announced that only two members (Hyein and Haerin) would return to the agency, sparking fears among fans that NewJeans would be leaving. However, Hanni, Danielle and Minji released a separate statement hours later revealing that they too would be returning – although it’s now clear that won’t be for long.
