ADOR Expresses Regret Over Min Hee-jin's Unilateral Resignation, Vows to Support NewJeans

On November 20, 2024, ADOR, the agency representing the girl group NewJeans, expressed regret regarding the unilateral resignation of Min Hee-jin, a director at the company. In an official statement released in the afternoon, ADOR stated, "We are saddened by Min Hee-jin's one-sided notice of resignation. We will do our utmost to support NewJeans in their growth and development."

Previously, Min Hee-jin announced her resignation from ADOR's board of directors through her legal representative, stating, "I am resigning from my position as an internal director at ADOR today. Additionally, I am terminating the shareholder agreement with HYBE and will hold HYBE legally accountable for any violations of this agreement."

Min further elaborated, "For over seven months, I have been embroiled in a hellish dispute with HYBE that began with their illegal audit in April. Despite this, I have made every effort to uphold the shareholder agreement and restore ADOR to its state prior to April." She indicated that her continued efforts to protect NewJeans were ultimately deemed a waste of time.

She criticized HYBE, stating, "As a minority shareholder and CEO, I have been subjected to absurd accusations of 'management takeover' and have faced unreasonable attacks that are hard to believe from a large corporation. After a long and tumultuous seven months, it has become clear that my whistleblowing was based on undeniable facts, while HYBE's ugly lies and hypocrisy are being exposed."

Min Hee-jin also expressed her dedication, saying, "For the past seven months, I have poured my heart and soul into reviving ADOR, which was damaged due to HYBE's serious violations of the shareholder agreement. This unprecedented situation is not over yet, but I want to sincerely thank all the supporters, including the fans of NewJeans, known as Bunnies, who have stood by me without faltering for nearly half a year."

Following her resignation, Min Hee-jin shared a post on her social media that seemed to convey a sense of relief, officially posting a 'resignation selfie' and unfollowing ADOR, NewJeans, and all related social media accounts. This action has led to various interpretations among fans and observers.

In August, ADOR's board of directors dismissed Min Hee-jin amid allegations of a management takeover and appointed Kim Joo-young, the former Chief Human Resources Officer at HYBE, as the new CEO. Subsequently, on October 17, an extraordinary general meeting was held, reappointing Min Hee-jin as an internal director, with her term set to last until 2027.