NewJeans, the flagship group of ADOR and one of the best-selling most awarded 4th generation K-Pop groups, has been beset by controversy after infighting between their now former CEO Min Hee-jin and their parent company HYBE was made public. Since then there have been a series of legal actions and public statements between both parties; however, the members themselves have consistently been on the side of their former CEO Min Hee-jin. Previously the members parents also released a joint statement in defense of Min Hee-jin. However after a legal judgement against HYBE barring them from removing Min Hee-jin from her position, after internal restructuring of ADOR they replaced Min-Hee jin with Kim Ju-young, the former head of HR in Hybe.
Min Hee-jin, former CEO of ADOR
There has also been discourse between one of the creative teams, Shin Wooseok (Dolphiners Film), that supported NewJeans first MVs. Wooseok claimed that the company asked them to remove videos they uploaded for NewJeans fans (known as Bunnies.)
In the video released on NewJeans YouTube, they pleaded with Hybe to stop harrassing the Min Hee-jin highlighting how the company is coming off so inhumane. They discuss how their working relationship prior was strong with business and creative, and how now they’ve lost trust. They also met with the new CEO and felt there was no consideration for them at all.
Members of NewJeans captured from live video
The members largely spoke in Korean with members Danielle and Hanni occasionally alternating between Korean and English.
The video was shortly removed after their livestream; however, copies have been posted online by various NewJeans fan accounts.
(Credit to https://x.com/juantokki for English Translation.)
“What NewJeans Wanted to Say”
[Full transcript translated to English]🐹: Some of you might be surprised by this sudden meeting, but we wanted to share our thoughts and opinions about the recent events, so we prepared this session. First, I want to explain one of the reasons we… pic.twitter.com/lGYabSD1fg
— 1tokki (@juantokki) September 11, 2024
