My feelings are a tangle right now.
It has nothing to do with ADOR’s divisive statement or with the outcome of the lawsuit. When the verdict came out, I was calm, perhaps because I had already braced myself for it.
What makes my heart heavy is this: if the girls truly have to go back, will that little child inside them, the one who once ran free, be locked away again and hidden in some quiet corner of their hearts?
Maybe, in time, I will start receiving messages on Phoning again, and the livestreams will grow lively once more. But when that happens, will they still be able to share everything so freely, the way they once did?
When they stand on stage again, will it still feel like pure joy to them?
And for every new song to come, will they still understand it fully and love it sincerely, as before?
Maybe I am overthinking.
But I believe there are bunnies who will understand why I feel this way.
Anyway, for now I will only listen to the words that come from the girls themselves. I will take to heart only the statements they speak with their own voices. Everything else, I will ignore.
Good night.
The court says the contract remains valid and all the girls are tied to their exclusive contracts with ADOR.
HYBE and ADOR got to the two youngest’s families, then spun the media narrative to make it seem like only they were coming back. The older members then said they’d return too… because they refuse to let ADOR tear them apart.
Now, HYBEstans don’t even want ADOR to accept the rest of the girls.
So which is it? If the contract is supposedly valid, as the corrupt court claims, then why does it suddenly not apply to everyone? Which lie are you choosing to believe this time?
Minji, Hanni, and Danielle's Official Statement:
"Hello, this is Minji, Hanni, and Danielle.
Recently, after careful discussion, we decided to return to ADOR. One of our members is currently in Antarctica, so communication has been delayed, and since ADOR has not yet responded, we were inevitably led to release this statement separately.
We will continue to greet you with sincere music and performances.
Thank you."
#NewJeans_Never_Die
Hello, this is Sejong LLC, the legal representative of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein
Today, the Seoul Central District Court delivered its first-instance ruling in the lawsuit filed by ADOR Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “ADOR”) against the members, confirming the validity of the exclusive contracts.
While the members respect the court’s decision, they maintain that, given the complete breakdown of trust with ADOR, it is impossible for them to return to the company and continue normal entertainment activities.
Accordingly, the members plan to immediately appeal the first-instance judgment, and they hope that the appellate court will comprehensively review the facts and legal principles surrounding the termination of the exclusive contracts to reach a wise decision.
Lastly, the members would like to express their sincere gratitude to the fans who have waited patiently and offered their unwavering support for so long.
[Exclusive] NewJeans Wins ₩100 Million Cyber Harassment Damages Lawsuit—Final Ruling Confirmed
https://t.co/WqCzExA8XL
Reporter Kim Im-soo
YouTuber sexually harassed NewJeans using video edits… even implying sexual acts
Filed without their agency—Seoul Western District Court awards ₩29 million in damages
It has been confirmed that girl group NewJeans recently won a damages lawsuit worth hundreds of millions of won against a YouTuber who sexually harassed them. The case is seen as another strong warning against so-called “cyber wreckers”—people who continuously harass K-pop artists and other public figures online to gain views, popularity, or profit.
According to Sisa Journal’s coverage on the 11th, Judge Lee A-young of the Seoul Western District Court’s Civil Division 13 ordered on June 25 that the defendant, identified as Shin, pay ₩5 million each to members Minji, Hanni, and Danielle, and ₩7 million each to Hyein and Haerin. The ruling became final on July 22 when Shin did not appeal.
Shin was accused of operating two YouTube accounts between April and May 2024, taking stage videos and self-produced content (“self-con”) from NewJeans and editing them into over 20 short videos that sexually harassed the members, while also posting malicious comments. In the videos, Shin altered NewJeans’ song title “Cookie” to “Thickness” and changed the phrase “greet brightly” into a crude sexual term. He also highlighted moments where members held microphones or ate cucumbers, framing them in a way that suggested sexual acts.
Shin further left comments such as, “I use the word ‘self-con’ differently. I mean controlling my XX thickly and powerfully,” and “I’d like to make her a mother of many children.” In response, the five NewJeans members jointly filed a damages lawsuit seeking ₩20 million each—a total of ₩100 million. The lawsuit was handled by law firm Yulchon, without participation from their agency, ADOR.
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Anonymous ‘Cyber Wreckers’ Exposed—Sparked by “Taldeok Detention Center” Case
Cyber wreckers, especially those operating mainly on YouTube, have been difficult to punish due to anonymity. That changed when IVE’s Jang Wonyoung and her agency, Starship Entertainment, sued the YouTuber behind “Taldeok Detention Center.” To identify the channel operator, they applied for a disclosure order at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, where Google’s headquarters are located, and Google complied by providing the information.
Inspired by this approach, NewJeans also made several fact-inquiry requests to Google, eventually identifying Shin.
Judge Lee stated in the ruling:
“It is evident, as a matter of common experience, that a person suffers mental distress when their personal rights are violated through another’s sexual expression. The personal rights of the NewJeans members were infringed, and thus the defendant is liable for damages.”
The court awarded higher damages to Haerin and Hyein in consideration of the fact that they were minors at the time.
Meanwhile, NewJeans has been in a year-long exclusive contract dispute with their agency ADOR. The group declared independent activities, citing a breakdown in trust with the company. ADOR responded by filing a lawsuit to confirm the validity of their exclusive contracts and a provisional injunction, which the court granted. A mediation session between the two sides is scheduled for the 14th.