NewJeans loses a member as ADOR terminates Danielle Marsh’s contract after court ruling

ADOR has terminated its exclusive contract with Danielle Marsh, formally removing her from NewJeans, as the long-running legal dispute between the agency and the members reaches a decisive stage.

Since their debut in 2022, NewJeans have emerged as one of the most influential acts of their generation, credited with reshaping K-pop’s sound and visual language through minimalist production, Y2K-inspired aesthetics and an understated stage presence that contrasted sharply with the genre’s traditionally high-concept performances. Songs such as Attention and Hype Boy propelled the group to early prominence, while later releases including Ditto, OMG and Super Shy cemented their global reach, topping domestic charts and gaining traction internationally.

Their music also became closely tied to social media culture, with choreography and short-form clips spreading widely across platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Tracks like OMG and Super Shy were frequently used in dance challenges and fan-made videos, helping NewJeans reach audiences well beyond the usual K-pop fan base.

The group’s influence extended into fashion and luxury, where NewJeans were quickly embraced as youth tastemakers. Collectively and individually, the members fronted campaigns for major global brands, including Calvin Klein, partnered with Apple on a music video project filmed entirely on an iPhone, and collaborated with lifestyle names such as Coca-Cola.

Danielle, in particular, had built a strong individual profile in the luxury sector. In 2024, she was announced as a global ambassador for Swiss watchmaker Omega, becoming one of the faces of its Aqua Terra collection. She also held ambassadorships with fashion and beauty houses including Burberry, Celine and YSL Beauty, reflecting her prominence beyond music at the height of NewJeans’ commercial success.

In a statement released on 29th Decemer 2025, ADOR said it had concluded that it was no longer possible for Danielle to continue as a member of NewJeans or as an artist under the label, citing a breakdown of trust following months of conflict.

According to statements reported by multiple news publications, the decision followed extended discussions between ADOR, the remaining members – Minji, Hanni and Danielle – and their families. These talks took place after a Seoul Central District Court ruling on 30th October 2025 confirmed the validity of the group’s exclusive contracts with ADOR through 2029.

Different members, different outcomes

Following the court ruling, ADOR began addressing the situation on a member-by-member basis.

The two youngest members, Haerin and Hyein, confirmed in November that they would continue activities under ADOR. Hanni later agreed to return to the agency after what ADOR described as in-depth discussions with her family. Talks with Minji remain ongoing, with the company stating that discussions are proceeding “positively” toward greater mutual understanding.

Danielle, however, became the sole member whose contract was terminated.

ADOR also said it intends to pursue legal accountability against a member of Danielle’s family and former ADOR chief executive Min Hee-jin, whom the company claims bear responsibility for causing the dispute and for delays in the group’s return to activities.

Dispute rooted in a 2024 power struggle

The conflict dates back to 2024, when tensions emerged between ADOR and its parent company, HYBE, leading to Min Hee-jin’s resignation as ADOR CEO later that year.

Following her departure, the NewJeans members publicly claimed that ADOR had breached its obligations, arguing that their exclusive contracts had effectively ended. ADOR countered by filing a lawsuit seeking confirmation of contract validity, along with injunctions to prevent the members from pursuing independent entertainment and advertising activities.

Courts consistently ruled in ADOR’s favour.

As reported by The Straits Times, the court approved injunctions blocking unauthorised activities and later authorised indirect compulsory execution, imposing penalties of 1 billion won per violation should any member breach the injunction.

Group remains inactive

Since the injunctions were enforced, NewJeans have remained inactive. While ADOR has said it aims to resolve the matter amicably and return the group to fans “as soon as possible,” the group’s future configuration remains uncertain.

Whether NewJeans will resume activities as a three- or four-member group has yet to be determined, pending the outcome of ongoing talks with Minji.

Contract disputes and member exits are not new in K-pop, but Danielle’s removal is NewJeans’ first permanent lineup change and is unusual for occurring so early and at a point when the group remained commercially dominant.