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| Photo: DB |
On the morning of the 26th, the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 31 (Presiding Judge Nam In-su) held the first pretrial hearing in ADOR’s suit seeking 431hundred millionKRW（about 28,877,000$） in damages against Daniel, one family member and former CEO Min Hee-jin (now CEO of OK Records).
In November 2024, Daniel and the then-current NewJeans members notified ADOR that they were terminating their exclusive contracts, citing a breakdown of trust. In October last year, however, the court ruled in ADOR’s favor and rejected the members’ claims in full.
After that ruling, members Haerin and Hyein returned to ADOR first, and Hani later decided to come back. Minji is still in discussions with the agency. In December, ADOR notified Daniel that his contract was terminated and filed the present damages claim. ADOR says Daniel and former CEO Min Hee-jin are chiefly responsible for the dispute, NewJeans’ departures and the delay in returns, and that it will hold them legally accountable.
From the outset of the hearing, both sides set out competing narratives.
Daniel’s attorney argued that Daniel is, above all, an idol and that a protracted lawsuit will inflict serious harm on his career, wasting the crucial years of his peak as a performer. “The plaintiff (ADOR) is well aware of this, which makes it seem like they may be aiming to delay the process,” the attorney said. He also noted that the suit targets not only Daniel but his mother—who he said is unrelated to the exclusive contract—as well as Min Hee-jin.
The attorney added that they had recently asked to push the pretrial date back by two months, and suggested that the plaintiff may be trying to draw out the proceedings. “We want the court to handle this quickly and with focus,” he said.
He stressed that because the plaintiff brought the claim, it should have a clear plan for proving its case. “The key issues are apparent and much of the evidence already exists. I don’t think the plaintiff needs to prolong the case to obtain more evidence,” he said.
ADOR’s legal team responded that it had no intention of delaying the proceedings, pointing out that the defense failed to submit documents due by the 13th and instead filed them late on the 19th.
ADOR further argued that the lawsuit concerns damages and contractual penalties, not the regulation of the defendant’s entertainment activities. “Whether the defendant performs is the defendant’s own decision. This case will not determine when or whether those activities happen,” ADOR’s counsel said.
Daniel’s side countered that even after Daniel indicated he would return, ADOR maintained the contract was void and suggested it would contest any resumption of activities. “If Daniel resumes his career, the plaintiff will pick a fight—this seems obvious,” the defense said.
The parties also sparred over witness lists.
ADOR said it needs to narrow witnesses to address what it describes as numerous violations by Daniel. “Since the other side denies everything, we need to decide whether witnesses are necessary and, if so, whom to call,” the plaintiff said.
Daniel’s team replied that prior related lawsuits took one to one-and-a-half years and that most pertinent facts have already emerged. “You’re seeking hundreds of hundred million KRW against someone born in 2005 and claim you don’t yet know which witnesses you’ll call?” they said. ADOR rebutted that nearly a year has passed since those earlier proceedings and that it must prove events that occurred in the interim. “This case is distinct from the prior one,” ADOR said.
The court asked whether settlement remained a possibility.
ADOR said it would not rule out settlement, while Daniel’s side responded that they were surprised to hear such a proposal after the plaintiff had filed a suit seeking a large penalty.
ADOR clarified that by leaving room for settlement it meant that mediation or discussions could arise during the course of litigation and that it was willing to follow whatever process the judge deemed appropriate. Daniel’s team said it was surprised but said it would consider the option.
[Sports Today reporter Yoon Hye-young ent@stoo.com]
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