[theqoo - hot] [Exclusive] HYBE to terminate only NewJeans member Danielle
date: 29/12/2025
After losing in the first trial of the lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract, all members accepted the ruling and effectively expressed their intention to return by giving up an appeal. Despite this, HYBE only accepted return statements from Haerin and Hyein, and has now been revealed to be attempting a “retaliatory contract termination” solely against NewJeans member Danielle.
Among the three members whose return intentions have not yet been made public, HYBE is singling out only Danielle to push out.
Following a 2:3 divide, it appears HYBE is now retaliating against just one person—Danielle—out of the remaining three.
According to reporting by Maeil Shinmun on the 28th, HYBE recently decided on a policy to terminate its exclusive contract only with Danielle, citing violations of contract terms. An anonymous industry insider stated, “While HYBE is preparing an official announcement regarding the return of Hanni and Minji, Danielle is expected to face measures such as contract termination.”
Terminating a contract on the grounds of violating exclusive contract terms would normally mean all NewJeans members should be subject to termination. However, as HYBE is attempting to terminate only Danielle’s contract, industry insiders are increasingly questioning whether this is a retaliatory termination.
Legal experts have commented that HYBE’s retaliatory action could instead become a legal weakness. This is because, after winning the lawsuit against all five NewJeans members on October 30, HYBE had promised the group’s return to activities. At the time, HYBE stated, “All preparations for activities such as the release of a NewJeans full album are complete,” adding, “We will do our utmost through discussions with the artists to bring them back to the fans.”
In simple terms, HYBE’s exercise of its authority to maintain or terminate contracts is increasingly being viewed not as artist protection, but as an instrument of attack, potentially destroying the trust between HYBE and NewJeans that had been gradually recovering. One lawyer referenced the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling in the LOONA Chuu case, where lack of transparency in profit settlement was recognized as legitimate grounds for contract termination due to irreparable breakdown of trust. The lawyer stated, “HYBE’s current actions—claiming trust has broken down with only a specific individual—directly contradict the Supreme Court’s established trust-relationship doctrine and amount to a legal contradiction.”
Another legal expert also commented, “HYBE’s selective disciplinary action is highly likely to be used as unfavorable evidence against HYBE when the court determines responsibility for the breakdown of trust.”
Regarding this matter, HYBE Vice President Park Tae-hee stated, “We cannot confirm the facts until an official position is released.”
COMMENTS
- You told them to come back, but when they did, you terminated their contract?
- Didn't they say Bang was always against her since debut?
- You're going to continue to make idols in Korea after making a fool of the National Assembly inspection like that? Seriously... HYBE, you're going to be screwed seriously
- ???Why only Danielle...
- I guess the rumour that Bang has hated Danielle since his debut is true.
- Please cancel the contracts of all five of them, Bang get out
- Not all of them but just one????? I don't quite understand
- Isn't this a bit strange?
- But in court, they told NewJeans to come back after they finished preparing for their activities, and then kicked one out in retaliation, which is a bit much.
- Why is HYBE such a trash company?
- Sending out only one person is a bit much
- It's reality, so there's nothing we can do about it, but they singled out only one person... They said in court that they would let them be active, but if this isn't retaliation, then what is? The more I look at HYBE, the more I dislike it.
- Danielle is really an idol who speaks like an angelㅠㅠ What did she do wrongㅠㅠ Sometimes when I'm working and a shitty situation comes up, I wonder what a kind and angelic kid like Danielle would do in that situation, but it's kind of shockingㅠㅠ
- Why only Danielle??
- If its like this then it was a lie that ADOR would support their activities
- HYBE keeps going on and on about the law, so why are they acting like this? ㅋㅋ Didn’t they win by insisting ‘you just need to come back’ and saying they had everything ready for a comeback? And now that they’re actually going back, HYBE won’t take them and starts retaliating instead.
- Huh? Then that wouldn’t even be NewJeans anymore. Wouldn’t they just have no identity? NewJeans are those five members, with those exact faces. It’s so vague now
[theqoo - hot] (Breaking News) ADOR: "NewJeans Danielle's contract terminated...Hanni's return and Minji in talks" [ADOR's full statement]
Among the NewJeans members, Danielle’s exclusive contract with ADOR has been terminated.
On the 29th, ADOR released an official statement announcing the matter, stating, “Following the finalization of the court ruling confirming the validity of the exclusive contracts, we have had numerous discussions with Minji, Hanni, Danielle, and the families of three members.”
ADOR Official Statement (Full Text)
Following the finalisation of the court ruling confirming the validity of the exclusive contracts, ADOR has held extensive discussions with Minji, Hanni, Danielle, and the families of three members.
Hanni visited Korea together with her family and engaged in long, in-depth discussions with ADOR. During this process, we took time to reflect on past events and view the situation objectively. After sincere conversations, Hanni decided to respect the court’s ruling and continue working together with ADOR.
Minji is also continuing discussions with ADOR, and both sides are steadily engaging in dialogue to deepen mutual understanding.
In Danielle’s case, ADOR determined that it would be difficult to continue together as a NewJeans member and ADOR artist, and therefore notified her today of the termination of her exclusive contract. In addition, ADOR plans to pursue legal responsibility against one member of Danielle’s family and former CEO Min Hee-jin, whom we believe bear significant responsibility for causing the current dispute and for NewJeans’ departure and delayed return.
Through these discussions, ADOR came to understand that the members had been exposed for a long period to distorted and biased information, leading to many misunderstandings about the company and ultimately to this dispute. Both the company and the artists agreed that, in order to regain the love of fans and the public, it is necessary, even if it takes time, to fully resolve misunderstandings based on accurate facts.
COMMENTS
- HYBE's lack of ability is clearly revealed. This is how a large corporation manages artists... tsk tsk
- If you're going to cancel her contract, just let them all go. That's really shameful
- ㅠㅠI'm so upset
- Either way, the fans must have been waiting for the five of them... The fact that they were torn apart must have been a huge wound.
- ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋThey said they would fully support New Jeans when he returns, but they all are seriously fucking liars
- But if you look at the article, isn't it true that Minji hasn't been confirmed yet?
- Up until here, HYBE idiot's actions are really like some kind of pseudo-religious group
- This really doesn't seem necessary
- I thought Hyein and Danielle were the members who brought out the team's unique atmosphere and harmony well ㅠㅠ
- From the beginning, when HYBE tried to kick out Min Hee-jin, HYBE had no intention of protecting and raising NewJeans.
- No, what should you do if you leave out one person...
- The company is already using the NewJeans brand name, so they're probably just trying to quickly select the people they want to work with and make some money.
- I don't think the NewJeans will be complete.
- Ah… there must’ve been fans who were really hoping for a full-group comeback. It’s sad… In the end, protecting the group is what truly protects the fans too ㅠ
- I want to see all 5 members of NewJeans togetherㅜㅜ It's too bad
- Isn't Danielle a key member? If she doesn't return, what kind of NewJeans is that...
- Minji hasn't confirmed her return yet, and they're still in talks. Seeing Danielle's announcement of her departure like this, it seems like they're pressuring Minji.
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