The company behind the popular K-pop group NewJeans has filed a lawsuit against one of its members, marking a significant development in an ongoing legal battle. Australian singer Danielle Marsh, a member of NewJeans, is facing a lawsuit exceeding $44 million from ADOR, a South Korean record company owned by the K-pop giant HYBE Entertainment, known for producing BTS.
Danielle Marsh, 20, was born in New South Wales to an Australian father and a South Korean mother. She gained international fame in 2022 with the debut of NewJeans, a five-member group whose members were aged between 14 and 18 at the time. NewJeans quickly rose to global prominence, with five of their songs topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2023.
Background of the Legal Dispute
NewJeans was created and produced by ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE Entertainment. HYBE is one of the world’s largest K-pop companies, with estimated cumulative revenue of approximately $2.075 billion up to the third quarter of 2025. The legal dispute began when NewJeans accused ADOR of “mistreatment” and announced plans to leave the agency. In October, a South Korean court ruled that the group must continue under their contract with ADOR until 2029.
Following the court ruling, ADOR announced it would terminate its contracts with Marsh, while continuing to engage with the remaining members, including another Australian member, Hanni Pham. The company also stated its intention to “pursue legal accountability against one member of Danielle’s family” and ADOR’s former CEO, Min Hee-Jin, described by the BBC as the “mentor” of the group.
Industry Practices and Global Reactions
The K-pop industry is renowned for its strict control over artists through long-term contracts with detailed and often rigid conditions. The legal dispute between NewJeans and ADOR has drawn widespread attention, with international fans expressing sympathy for the group over allegations of bullying and harassment allegedly condoned by the company.
Fans of Hanni Pham submitted a petition to the South Korean government, calling for an investigation into the alleged workplace bullying faced by NewJeans. In October 2024, Pham delivered a tearful testimony before South Korea’s parliament regarding these allegations.
“I know it’s not going to 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,” Reuters quoted Pham telling South Korean leaders.
Regulatory and Legal Implications
The South Korean employment ministry later dismissed NewJeans’ workplace bullying complaint, citing that Pham was not legally classified as an “employee” of ADOR under the country’s Labour Standards Act. This decision led to the proposal of new legislation, “Hanni’s Act,” aimed at extending protections against workplace bullying and harassment to artists.
Pham also faced potential deportation due to her employer-sponsored work visa expiring amid the legal dispute. Her parents confirmed in February that she had secured a new visa. Meanwhile, South Korea’s major industrial bodies criticized NewJeans for resolving private disputes through media campaigns rather than proper negotiations or legal procedures.
Five of South Korea’s major industrial bodies issued a joint statement criticizing NewJeans for “resolving private disputes through media campaigns and unilateral public statements rather than proper negotiations or legal procedures.”
The Road Ahead
The ongoing legal battle between NewJeans and ADOR highlights the complexities and challenges within the K-pop industry. As the case unfolds, it may set precedents for how contract disputes are handled in the future, potentially influencing both industry practices and regulatory frameworks.
For the latest updates on this developing story, stay tuned to SBS News.
