This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
The five members of the K-pop girl group also criticize HYBE for alleged mistreatment of the group since Min Hee-jin was removed as ADOR’s CEO
MANILA, Philippines – K-pop girl group NewJeans breaks its silence on the months-long dispute between former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and HYBE in a surprise livestream on Wednesday, September 11.
The five members pleaded to HYBE management and chairman Bang Si-hyuk to reinstate Min as ADOR’s CEO by September 25.
“What we want is the original ADOR, where Min Hee-jin is CEO and where the management and production are combined. The reason we’re making this request is because this is the [only] way we can get along with HYBE, without fighting with the company,” member Minji said in Korean, as translated by Soompi.
ADOR announced on August 27 that its board replaced Min with HR expert Kim Joo-young. The agency added that Min will continue to serve as the company’s internal director and oversee the production of NewJeans.
A representative for Min responded that the decision was “made unilaterally without her consent.”
Hyein said that the decision to hold the livestream and call for Min’s reinstatement came after a meeting with ADOR and company management where the NewJeans members felt their feelings and thoughts were not properly communicated.
She added that NewJeans only found out about the announcement of Min’s departure as CEO through an article, adding that the members felt that HYBE did not respect the group at all.
“With Min Hee-jin, we were able to prepare each and every task with sincere hearts, and I believe it shows in our work. Putting our sincere effort into something is only possible because the people that we’re working with have trust in each other and have that same vision,” Danielle said in English.
“Min Hee-jin is not only the person that produces our music, but someone who makes NewJeans who we are,” she added.
NewJeans announced the livestream in an X account handled by the members by posting a link with a Korean phrase translating to “What NewJeans Want To Say.” The link redirects to a YouTube livestream handled by a new channel outside of the group’s official accounts.
Hyein said that NewJeans’ staff were not aware of the group’s plans to hold the surprise livestream.
As of writing, the X post and the YouTube livestream have been deleted.
Alleged mistreatment
During the livestream, member Hanni mentioned an alleged incident where a manager for another HYBE group told its members to ignore her after they greeted each other.
“When they came back out a little while later, their manager told them ‘ignore her’ in front of me…. Thinking about it now, I still don’t understand why I need to go through something like that,” she said in Korean.
Hanni reported the alleged incident to Kim but reportedly told her she was too late in reporting the incident as there was no proof. Hanni said the incident made her feel that the new CEO was not worried about the group.
“We are not going to follow HYBE’s every order blindly. We are more than well aware that this is getting in the way of our work and that we should be treated much much better than how we are right now,” she added in English.
Hanni also said that NewJeans does not want to hear HYBE’s “empty words” in helping them continue their work with Min and the members hope that their working environment will “return back to normal” by settling the legal conflict in ADOR.
The legal dispute between Min and HYBE started after HYBE accused Min of a breach of trust following an internal probe. The probe was launched after the company detected attempts by ADOR management to make the label independent, an allegation that Min denies. – Rappler.com
