NewJeans at Four Years: A Fractured Roster, a 4-Member Drop, and Multi-Million Dollar Legal Headaches
The year 2026 was supposed to be a period of rebuilding for NewJeans. Instead, it has solidified itself as the most turbulent chapter in the group’s history.
Just weeks after initial reports surfaced detailing complex U.S. copyright lawsuits over two of their biggest hit singles, “ETA” and “How Sweet,” the K-pop landscape shifted again on July 22, 2026.
On what marked the fourth anniversary of NewJeans’ explosive 2022 debut with “Attention,” parent agency ADOR published surprise video content featuring four members—Minji, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein.
Notably absent was Danielle, whose contract was officially terminated by ADOR following a series of high-stakes court rulings.
As former CEO Min Hee-jin, agency executives, and remaining members navigate an intricate network of Korean damages suits and U.S. federal copyright claims, the future of one of K-pop’s most revolutionary acts rests entirely in the hands of legal teams and musicologists.
The 4th Anniversary Drop: A Strategic Four-Member Signals Test
At midnight on July 22, 2026, ADOR released a five-video promotional series titled “2026 Summer of NewJeans” on the group’s official YouTube channel.
The release represented the group’s first official coordinated media drop since their activity suspension following ComplexCon Hong Kong in March 2025.
The primary 60-second teaser showcased four members—Minji, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein—gathering under a moonlit summer night sky, holding hands, and looking forward in unison. Accompanying individual teaser clips were also uploaded for each of the four featured idols.
| Member | Contract Status | Current Activity / Legal Standing |
|---|---|---|
| Hanni | Active (ADOR) | Returned to ADOR late 2025 |
| Haerin | Active (ADOR) | Returned to ADOR late 2025 |
| Hyein | Active (ADOR) | Returned to ADOR late 2025 |
| Minji | Active (ADOR) | In active talks regarding activity |
| Danielle | Terminated | Facing 33B KRW damages claim by ADOR |
While fans celebrated the visual return of the quartet, ADOR issued a carefully measured statement regarding the roster structure.
Representatives clarified that while Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein had fully reconciled their operational status with ADOR late last year following court injunctions, talks with Minji were still ongoing to “broaden mutual understanding.”
More importantly, the company emphasized that while the anniversary content was created as a gift for waiting fans, official comeback plans, music release dates, and performance formats would only be announced once internal consultations with all four members were entirely finalized.
Danielle’s Ouster and the 33 Billion KRW Damages Lawsuit
While four members appeared in official ADOR media, former member Danielle marked the group’s fourth anniversary independently. On her personal social media channels, Danielle posted photos accompanied by a brief message to her followers:
“Life may sometimes become cloudy, but light always returns. Until then, keep shining. Thank you forever.”
The message arrived amidst an ongoing, aggressive legal offensive by ADOR.
Following a Seoul High Court ruling in October 2025 that upheld exclusive contract validity in favor of ADOR and issued injunctions against independent activities under alternative names like “NJZ,” ADOR formally terminated Danielle’s artist contract in December 2025.
ADOR publicly stated that continuing a professional relationship with Danielle as an ADOR artist was no longer viable.
Shortly thereafter, ADOR filed a massive damages lawsuit originally valued at 43.1 billion KRW, later adjusted during court proceedings in July 2026 to approximately 33.09 billion KRW (roughly $24 million USD).
The lawsuit targets three main defendants:
- Danielle
- A close member of Danielle’s family
- Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin
Key Legal Claims Presented in Court
During the third hearing of the damages trial on July 2, 2026, ADOR’s legal team presented new documentation, audio recordings, and corporate filings to justify the multi-billion won claim:
- Unilateral Activities: ADOR argued that Danielle was the sole member who actively pursued independent commercial ventures—such as solo magazine photo shoots and independent musical activities—without label authorization during the contractual dispute.
- The AAO Exclusivity Agreement: ADOR introduced evidence alleging that the members had previously entered into an agreement with AAO, an entity tied to the organizers of ComplexCon Hong Kong.
ADOR claimed this contract mandated that the group report internal ADOR management decisions to external third parties. While other members eventually rescinded their ties to AAO upon returning to ADOR, legal filings allege that Danielle and her family intentionally concealed the agreement’s existence. - Min Hee-jin’s Direct Role: ADOR submitted audio recordings from September 2024 featuring Min Hee-jin speaking with members’ parents, arguing that Min actively orchestrated the group’s public livestreams and contract termination notices to create pretexts for legal separation, rather than acting as a passive advisor.
In response, legal representatives for Danielle have pushed back firmly against these accusations. Her defense team argued in court that ADOR was fully aware of all schedule details and third-party interactions during prior legal injunction proceedings.
Furthermore, Danielle’s counsel asserted that isolating Danielle for primary breach of contract is legally inconsistent, given that all five original members participated in joint activities, such as the ComplexCon Hong Kong performance, prior to the court’s injunction.
Dual U.S. Copyright Lawsuits: The “ETA” and “How Sweet” Filings
While domestic courts in Seoul deal with contractual validity and financial damages, ADOR and HYBE are simultaneously fighting a two-front copyright war in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Both suits center on allegations that NewJeans’ hit tracks relied heavily on unauthorized musical material.
All Surface Publishing
Alleged infringement of “Samir’s Theme”
(2005 Club Track)
Rhythmic horn motif,
16th-note structure
Four U.S. songwriters
(including A. Armacost)
Alleged infringement of
“One of a Kind” demo
31-note sequence,
tension note alignment
1. The “ETA” Infringement Suit
Filed on July 7, 2026, by U.S. music publishing entity All Surface Publishing, this lawsuit claims that NewJeans’ 2023 hit “ETA” (from the Billboard 200-topping EP Get Up) plagiarized key elements of “Samir’s Theme,” a 2005 Baltimore club track created by DJ Debonair Samir.
The complaint names a comprehensive list of defendants:
- NewJeans (as a performing entity)
- Producer 250
- Lyricist Beenzino
- HYBE & ADOR
- Production agency BANA (Beasts And Natives Alike)
- Apple Inc. (due to commercial integration in iPhone advertising campaigns)
The plaintiff alleges that “ETA” replicates the distinct syncopated horn refrain, bass drum patterns, and 16th-note rhythmic arrangements of the 2005 original. The suit seeks an injunction, disgorgement of profits, and statutory damages reaching up to $150,000 per infringed work.
2. The “How Sweet” Topline Dispute
The second lawsuit, stemming from a complaint originally highlighted by South Korean media outlet Dispatch, centers on NewJeans’ May 2024 single “How Sweet.” Four American songwriters, including composer Audrey Armacost, allege that in January 2024, they were commissioned by a publisher to write a topline melody over an instrumental track intended for NewJeans.
The writers submitted a demo titled “One of a Kind.” Although ADOR and production agency BANA rejected the demo, the plaintiffs allege that when “How Sweet” was officially released four months later, its opening verse copied their exact melody.
Technical musicology reports submitted alongside the court documents contend that “How Sweet” and “One of a Kind” share:
- A 31-note topline sequence spanning eight measures.
- Identical key signature (B-flat minor) and time signature (4/4).
- An identical, highly specific “tension note” placement—a chromatic deviation outside the standard B-flat minor scale used deliberately to build melodic momentum.
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The BANA Connection and Legal Exposure
Both U.S. copyright filings converge on a single common denominator: external agency BANA (Beasts And Natives Alike) and its executive Kim Ki-hyun.
During former CEO Min Hee-jin’s tenure at ADOR, BANA was selected to handle A&R (Artists and Repertoire) operations, track sourcing, and initial copyright clearances for NewJeans’ discography.
Financial audits and court records reveal that Min Hee-jin paid Kim Ki-hyun approximately 33 million KRW (~$24,000 USD) monthly in consulting fees, alongside performance incentives totaling over 1 billion KRW (~$666,000 USD).
Min Hee-jin
“ETA” Production
All Surface Publishing lawsuit
“How Sweet” Production
Armacost demo lawsuit
ADOR’s official defense strategy in California federal court relies on demonstrating that the agency relied on BANA’s legal assurances in good faith. ADOR previously stated that when plagiarism allegations were first internally flagged in mid-2024, BANA assured management that all necessary rights were cleared and that no infringement had occurred.
By framing track selection and vetting as the direct operational responsibility of BANA and former leadership, ADOR aims to shield the current active members and the corporate entity from direct liability, while simultaneously utilizing these liabilities in domestic counter-claims against former management.
Commercial Implications and What Lies Ahead
The commercial stakes surrounding these legal battles are immense. “How Sweet” alone has logged over 1.24 million physical and digital units sold, charted in the top 20 of the Billboard Global 200, and earned critical acclaim worldwide.
If the U.S. District Court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, financial penalties could include royalty freezes, substantial profit redistribution, or licensing restrictions on global streaming platforms.
Furthermore, the public relations landscape remains highly fragmented:
- Brand Recovery: ADOR is focused on demonstrating operational stability by re-introducing the four-member lineup and preparing new musical releases.
- Fanbase Division: Portions of the fanbase remain divided, with vocal factions organizing social media campaigns under hashtags such as
#NoDanielleNoNewJeans, while others support the remaining four members’ decision to resume their careers under ADOR. - Industry Precedent: The outcome of ADOR’s 33 billion KRW suit against Danielle and Min Hee-jin will likely set major legal precedents in the K-pop industry regarding idol agency contracts, artist independence, and the liability of third-party advisors.
As court proceedings unfold across both Seoul and California throughout the remainder of 2026, NewJeans stands at a critical juncture.
Whether the group can successfully reclaim its position at the top of the global music scene will depend not only on the quality of their upcoming four-member releases, but also on how cleanly ADOR can navigate the complex legal web surrounding their past hits.