On January 2, lawyer Lee Ji-hoon, who runs the YouTube channel Knowing Lawyer, uploaded a video titled “From Now On, It’s All-Out War: Danielle vs. Biological Mother vs. Adoptive Mother (ADOR’s Divide-and-Conquer)”, in which he analyzed Danielle’s recent removal from ADOR and the legal ramifications surrounding the case.
In the video, lawyer Lee strongly criticized Danielle’s recent public activities, particularly her participation in volunteer work during the dispute.
“Volunteering is good, but not now. This is not the time,” Lee said. “The NewJeans members unilaterally terminated their contracts and caused financial damage to the company. Shareholders were harmed. Causing deliberate damage and then engaging in volunteer activities shows a lack of situational awareness.”
He added that Danielle and the other members should demonstrate restraint rather than public displays of normalcy or happiness.
“At the very least, they should understand that this is a serious situation that calls for self-restraint and reflection. Their actions have caused harm to others. They should show remorse and maintain a low profile. Acting carefree only escalates the issue,” he stated.
Lee then laid out what he believes Danielle must do next from a legal standpoint. According to him, acknowledging personal fault is unavoidable—but distancing herself from former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin is critical.
“Danielle needs to admit her mistakes and explain that she was manipulated or gaslit by Min Hee-jin,” he said. “This situation could constitute joint illegal conduct, meaning compensation liability toward ADOR. Internally, however, she must push greater responsibility onto Min Hee-jin.”
He went further, urging a complete break.
“She must cut ties completely and go on the offensive. If she stays aligned with Min Hee-jin, she has no chance of recovery,” Lee warned. “She needs to actively argue and prove that she was manipulated. Any further missteps will end everything.”
Lee concluded by emphasizing that Danielle’s legal survival depends on cooperation with ADOR rather than confrontation.
“Her stance must clearly diverge from Min Hee-jin’s. If this is to end through mediation with the company, she has to oppose Min Hee-jin directly,” he said.
Meanwhile, ADOR announced last month that it had formally notified Danielle of the termination of her exclusive contract.
In an official statement, the company said it had determined that “it is difficult to continue working with Danielle as a NewJeans member and ADOR artist.” ADOR also stated that it plans to pursue legal responsibility against “one family member of Danielle and former CEO Min Hee-jin, who bear significant responsibility for the current dispute and delays in NewJeans’ return.”
The case remains ongoing, with legal observers noting that its outcome could set important precedents for idol contracts and third-party influence disputes in the K-pop industry.
Sources: Netizenbuzz