NewJeans producer Min Hee-jin has voiced her discontent after being replaced as CEO of ADOR by HYBE’s chief HR officer, Kim Ju-young. According to Min, she was “pushed out of her position” against her will, which she claims is a “grave violation” of the shareholders’ contract. The decision, announced by ADOR on Tuesday, has sparked controversy within the K-pop industry.
Min Hee-jin, who played a pivotal role in the success of NewJeans, expressed her dissatisfaction with the board’s decision, stating, “The board made the decision regardless of the CEO’s wishes. This is a grave violation of the shareholders’ contract.” She also mentioned that the company did not discuss her future role as a producer for NewJeans, labeling the move as a “unilateral decision.”
In response, ADOR issued a statement on Tuesday evening, refuting Min’s claims. “The board meeting was held according to the law. The date was chosen from the list provided by Min Hee-jin. She participated in the meeting online, and the board made the optimal decision for the future of ADOR and NewJeans,” the company stated.
In a separate report, ADOR detailed the structural changes within the company, announcing that they will be separating the management and production sectors. Kim Ju-young, a member of ADOR’s board of directors, has been appointed as the new CEO. The company assured that they will continue to support NewJeans’ success with this new structure. Despite the change in leadership, Min Hee-jin will remain with ADOR as a staff member and retain her position on the board of directors. She will also continue her role in producing music for NewJeans.
The news of Min Hee-jin’s removal comes amid an ongoing legal battle between her and HYBE. Min has accused five HYBE executives of defamation and leaking her private messages to the media, leading to a police investigation. In response, HYBE has announced plans to countersue her for false accusations. This legal conflict, which began in April this year, also coincided with leadership changes at HYBE, with former CEO Park Ji-won stepping down and being replaced by Lee Jae-sang, the former chief strategy officer.
The developments have raised questions about the future direction of ADOR and the potential impact on NewJeans, one of the rising stars in the K-pop scene. Fans and industry insiders alike are closely watching how the situation unfolds.
Sources By Agencies
