Min Hee-jin Leaves HYBE, Unfollows NewJeans Amid Controversy

Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of ADOR, has officially declared her complete separation from HYBE. On November 20, she announced, "I am resigning from my position as a director at ADOR and terminating the shareholder agreement with HYBE."

Min stated, "Despite the hellish disputes with HYBE that began with their illegal audit in April and have lasted over seven months, I have done everything in my power to uphold the shareholder agreement and restore ADOR to its pre-April state. However, HYBE has yet to acknowledge its mistakes and shows no signs of change, leading me to conclude that further efforts would be a waste of time." She also indicated her intention to hold HYBE and its representatives legally accountable.

Following her announcement, Min unfollowed both the official NewJeans and ADOR accounts on social media, also removing the link to the ADOR account from her profile. She posted a farewell emoji along with a 'resignation rabbit meme,' featuring a rabbit character holding a blue card that reads 'resignation.' Additionally, she shared the song "Free" by Dennis Williams, quoting the lyrics, "I want to be free. I have to be me."

Min's decision to unfollow NewJeans has sparked mixed reactions among fans. Some expressed concern that she might be distancing herself from the members, while others interpreted it as a clear statement of her intent to separate from ADOR, regardless of her relationship with the group. The rabbit, being a symbol of NewJeans, has led some to believe this signifies a complete break.

With Min's departure from ADOR and HYBE, attention has shifted to NewJeans. Since Min was removed from her position in August, the group has consistently called for her return. In September, they issued an ultimatum to HYBE during a live broadcast and sent a formal notice on the 13th, indicating their willingness to terminate their exclusive contract.

Industry insiders speculate that NewJeans may not follow Min in her new direction. However, if they were to embark on a new journey with her, it could lead to serious allegations of tampering, suggesting that Min attempted to poach NewJeans for her own management. This could result in astronomical penalties, potentially exceeding 450 billion KRW.

Even without tampering allegations, the potential impact on NewJeans remains uncertain. If they are forced to engage in a legal battle over their exclusive contract with HYBE, their activities could be stalled for an indeterminate period, possibly years. The young members would have to endure this drawn-out conflict, which could severely damage their image, already affected by the ongoing disputes between adults. Whether NewJeans can recover and regain their previous momentum after overcoming these challenges is still in question.

In the meantime, Min has filed a lawsuit at the Seoul Central District Court to claim payment related to a put option estimated at 25 billion KRW.