Did Min Hee Jin Abandon NewJeans? Viral Article Sparks Controversy
Min Hee Jin reportedly left the group after NewJeans held a live broadcast and took a public stand against ADOR.
Earlier in March, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that popular Korean Girl group NewJeans cannot operate independently without ADOR’s approval, reinforcing their exclusivity contract with the HYBE subsidiary. The dispute began when NewJeans pushed for Min Hee-jin’s reinstatement as ADOR’s CEO. After being denied, the group attempted to terminate their contracts, citing mistreatment, prompting ADOR to take legal action.
Since resigning in November 2024, Min Hee-jin has kept a low profile, shifting the conflict from her battle with HYBE to one between NewJeans and ADOR. Now, an article from a Korean news outlet, MediaUs, has sent shockwaves through the K-pop community, stirring up heated discussions about Min Hee Jin’s sudden absence from the legal battle against HYBE.
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According to the report, Min Hee Jin appears to have stepped out of the spotlight, leaving the members to handle the fight on their own. The shift reportedly began after NewJeans held an emergency live broadcast where the group took a public stand against ADOR. Since then, Min has been noticeably absent from the front lines, raising questions about her role in the ongoing conflict.
Her absence, as the article suggests, is likely due to her dismissal as ADOR’s CEO. No longer an official figure in the company, she now stands as an outsider in this battle. Any direct involvement with NewJeans at this stage could be interpreted as interference, which might work against her in court.
The moment the dispute shifted from ‘Min Hee Jin vs. HYBE’ to ‘NewJeans vs. ADOR’ was during the group’s YouTube live broadcast. After that, Min Hee Jin completely disappeared from the front lines and NewJeans took the limelight, continuing the fight. Since she was dismissed as ADOR’s CEO and became a third party in this matter, any further involvement in NewJeans’ decisions could raise suspicions of ‘tampering’ – contacting artists still under contract – which could weaken her legal position. This is why NewJeans, who had always operated under Min’s influence, suddenly had to present themselves as ‘independent idols.
Meanwhile, rumours have been swirling that Min has been holding discreet meetings with external business figures. Some reports even claim she met with a NewJeans member just a day before their National Assembly hearing appearance.
Another key focus of the article is NewJeans’ recent press conference, which, according to the report, lacked the impact of Min Hee Jin’s previous public addresses. The piece argues that while Min had the authority and experience to approach the issue from various angles, the young idols were restricted by their carefully curated public personas. Their attempt to position themselves as victims yearning for the return of their former mentor came across as limited and vulnerable to criticism.
“NewJeans’ press conference failed to leave as strong an impression as Min Hee Jin’s own conference. Unlike Min, who, as a CEO and industry executive, could speak on a range of topics with different tones, the young female idols were confined within the image they had been given. They positioned themselves as victims of mistreatment, pleading for the return of their ‘rightful guardian," it read, reports Koreaboo.
The comments section of the article is filled with readers weighing in on the situation, with many taking strong stances against Min Hee Jin’s actions. Some believe she miscalculated her strategy, while others argue that HYBE is the clear winner in this conflict.
“Min Hee Jin’s greed ruined everything," read a comment. “Was Min Hee Jin’s goal to ruin the kids? Is that her way of getting revenge on HYBE?" read another one. “I really enjoyed reading this. Thank you for the great article," said a reader. “Min Hee-Jin is currently legally restricted from contacting NewJeans. What’s the issue? Even if she tried to approach them, nothing would change," said another one.
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