The Big Feud: Min Hee-jin vs. HYBE
The K-pop world is no stranger to drama, but the ongoing feud between Min Hee-jin, former CEO of ADOR, and HYBE, the parent company of ADOR, has taken things to a whole new level. This isn’t just about music—it’s about power, control, and the future of one of K-pop’s hottest girl groups, NewJeans.
Min Hee-jin, the creative mastermind behind NewJeans, has been at the center of this storm since April 2024. HYBE accused her of trying to take over ADOR and pull NewJeans out of the company. Min denied these claims, but the battle has only gotten messier with lawsuits, leaked texts, and even accusations of plagiarism.
What Sparked the Controversy?
It all started when HYBE launched an audit of ADOR, claiming Min was planning a “hostile takeover.” They alleged she was in talks with external investors to buy out ADOR and take NewJeans with her. Min fired back, accusing HYBE of copying NewJeans’ style with their new girl group, ILLIT, and failing to protect her group’s creative achievements.
Things got even more heated when HYBE reported Min to the police for breach of trust. Min held a tearful press conference, denying the allegations and calling HYBE’s actions unfair. She even claimed that HYBE’s chairman, Bang Si-hyuk, had copied her ideas for BTS—a statement that didn’t sit well with BTS fans.
NewJeans Caught in the Middle
While the adults fight, NewJeans—the five-member girl group behind hits like “Ditto” and “Super Shy”—has been caught in the crossfire. The members have publicly supported Min, calling her their “mother” and demanding her reinstatement as CEO. In a now-deleted YouTube livestream, they accused HYBE of creating a toxic work environment and failing to protect them.
In November 2024, NewJeans sent an official notice to terminate their contract with ADOR, citing a “complete breakdown of trust.” They claimed HYBE had sidelined them and even leaked their pre-debut materials. As of November 29, 2024, NewJeans declared they were no longer under ADOR’s management.
The Latest Twist: Dispatch’s Exposé and January 9th Interview
In December 2024, Korean tabloid Dispatch dropped a bombshell, releasing leaked texts and photos allegedly showing Min Hee-jin meeting with external investors to discuss taking NewJeans out of ADOR. One of the investors, Park Jung-gyu, chairman of Davolink, confirmed the meeting, saying Min had proposed a 5 billion KRW investment to secure NewJeans’ future.
On January 9th, Ten Asia conducted an exclusive interview with Park Jung-gyu, who revealed that he had met with Min Hee-jin to discuss the potential investment in ADOR and the future of NewJeans. This interview confirmed the allegations that Min was indeed in contact with external investors to pull NewJeans out of ADOR.
Park stated that during the meeting, Min proposed a plan to restructure Daverlink and use it as a vehicle to secure NewJeans’ future. However, the discussions fell through due to disagreements over the investment structure. Despite Min’s denials, the interview provided further evidence of her attempts to take control of NewJeans independently of HYBE.
FAQ About Min Hee-jin and NewJeans
1. Who is Min Hee-jin?
Min Hee-jin is the former CEO of ADOR and the creative director behind NewJeans. She’s known for her work at SM Entertainment and HYBE, where she helped shape the concept and style of NewJeans.
2. Why is Min Hee-jin fighting with HYBE?
HYBE accused Min of trying to take over ADOR and pull NewJeans out of the company. Min denies these claims and has accused HYBE of plagiarism and failing to protect NewJeans’ creative achievements.
3. What is NewJeans’ current status?
As of November 29, 2024, NewJeans has terminated their contract with ADOR and declared they are no longer under the agency’s management. They are currently in a legal dispute with HYBE.
4. What role did Dispatch play in this drama?
Dispatch released leaked texts and photos allegedly showing Min Hee-jin meeting with external investors to discuss taking NewJeans out of ADOR. This has added more controversy to the ongoing feud.
5. Will NewJeans continue as a group?
The future of NewJeans is uncertain. While the members have expressed a desire to continue making music, their legal battles with HYBE could impact their ability to release new content.
As of January 2025, NewJeans is in limbo. The group has officially cut ties with ADOR but remains entangled in legal battles with HYBE. Fans, known as Bunnies, are worried about the group’s future. Will they continue as a group? Will Min Hee-jin return to guide them? Or will HYBE find a way to keep them under their umbrella?
One thing’s for sure: this drama isn’t over yet.
