NewJeans’ Danielle has filed a lawsuit against millions after a bitter dispute with K-pop record label | Kpop

K-pop record label Ador announced it has filed a lawsuit against a former member of mega-group NewJeans for millions of dollars in damages, a day after she was booted from the group following a year-long dispute that saw the band allege abuse and attempt to leave their contract.

The damages lawsuit against Danielle Marsh, a 20-year-old Australian-born singer, comes months after a Seoul District Court ruled that the five NewJeans members must honor their contracts with Ador, whose parent company Hybe is also behind the K-pop band BTS. The band’s contract extends until 2029.

Ador is also filing a lawsuit against an unnamed member of Daniel’s family and the group’s former producer Min Hee-jin for damages and as part of the contract termination penalty, claiming that they bear “significant responsibility for causing this dispute and for NewJeans’ departure and delay in their return.”

South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported that the total amount requested from the three individuals amounts to 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 leave Ador, prompting the company to seek an injunction barring it from any business activities. This request was approved in March.

The company said Monday that Danielle’s contract had been terminated, as “it was determined that it would be difficult for her to continue as an artist under Adore.”

The company claimed that NewJeans members were “consistently exposed to distorted and biased information” which led to “significant misunderstandings.”

The Guardian has contacted Danielle for comment.

According to Ador, three of the remaining four members have decided to stay with the agency, while member Minji is still in talks with the company.

NewJeans, which debuted in 2022, is among Hybe’s most successful works. After the lawsuit against Danielle was announced, fans took to social media with the slogan: “NewJeans is five or nothing.”

The dramatic contractual dispute erupted last year after allegations that Hype forced Min, the band’s producer, to leave her position as CEO of Ador.

NewJeans members later issued an ultimatum demanding Min’s reinstatement, which Hybe rejected. The members then went public with their grievances, claiming that the company had intentionally undermined their careers.

Vietnamese-Australian band member Hani Pham claimed the band suffered abuse, including “deliberate misunderstanding and manipulation” while working with the company. In October, she gave emotional testimony before South Korea’s parliament about the accusations, saying: “I know it won’t solve all the problems in the world, but if we just respect each other, at least there will be no problems with bullying and harassment in the workplace.”

Danielle also claimed that when she was a trainee at an idol training camp, she was under constant surveillance and had to obtain management approval for all meals, a claim to which neither Ador nor Hybe have responded.

In October, the Seoul Central District Court rejected NewGenes’ claims that the allegations had caused an “irreparable breakdown of trust” with Adore.

Weeks later, South Korea’s Ministry of Labor also dismissed Pham’s workplace bullying complaint against Ador, stating that the members were not legal employees of Ador, but “exceptional entities.”

The dispute sparked panic in the K-pop industry, sparking discussions about K-pop stars’ rights as workers, a status they have been legally denied.

In a joint statement to Time magazine after the injunction was issued against them, the band said: “It’s as if Korea wants to turn us into revolutionaries.”

In November, Ador announced that only two members, Hyein and Haerin, would be returning to the agency, raising concerns among fans that NewJeans would break up. But Hani, Danielle, and Minji issued a separate statement hours later explaining that they would be back as well — but it’s clear now, not for long.