Danielle, a member of the K-pop group NJZ (NewJeans), has revealed shocking details about the intense control and surveillance she experienced during her trainee days under HYBE.
On March 18, Danielle held a live broadcast in English through NJZ’s official account, where she openly communicated with fans, known as Bunnies.
During the broadcast, Danielle reflected on her trainee days, saying, “There were a lot of rules, but I eventually realized that most of them didn’t really have any meaning.”
She continued, “For example, even during our free time, we had to leave a message before going to the bathroom. We were constantly monitored even when staying in the practice room, so we didn’t have much freedom. Even before eating, I had to take a picture of my meal and send it to a female manager so they could check what I was eating.”
Danielle further explained, “I think the reason we had to follow these rules was that we believed we wouldn’t debut if we didn’t. It felt like they might cut us if we didn’t comply. Even now, I don’t think I’ve fully escaped that mindset. The other members may feel differently, but that’s how it was for me.”
Danielle credited former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin with changing her perspective and helping her and the other members break free from that mentality. “When we met Min Hee Jin, a lot of things changed. I remember how shocked she was when she heard about how we had lived as trainees,” Danielle recalled.
She also questioned the reasoning behind such a restrictive system: “I’ve thought about why they would run a system that suppresses our creativity. I’m not sure. Maybe it’s because it’s a system that’s been carried over from the past in this industry. Or maybe the people in charge at the time found it easier to control us that way.”
Ongoing Legal Battle with ADOR
Danielle and the other NJZ members — Minji, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein — have been engaged in a legal battle against ADOR since late last year. On November 27, 2024, the members held an emergency press conference, stating that ADOR had failed to address their grievances within 14 days of receiving a formal notice of breach. As a result, they declared that their exclusive contracts with ADOR would be terminated effective November 29, 2024.
In response, on December 3, 2024, ADOR filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court seeking to confirm the validity of their exclusive contracts with NewJeans.
The first court hearing regarding ADOR’s request for an injunction to preserve its status as the group’s agency and to prohibit the members from signing independent advertisement contracts was held on March 7, 2025. Both sides maintained opposing positions, and the court is expected to reach a decision after reviewing additional evidence submitted by March 14.
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