Korean entertainment company HYBE told Min Hee-jin, CEO of ADOR, the agency of K-pop girl group NewJeans, to resign and stop lying amid the growing rift between the two parties over allegations that she planned a takeover of the label.
HYBE confirmed to Manila Bulletin on April 26 that it had already reported Min Hee-jin to the police on April 25 for breach of trust after it conducted an audit of ADOR executives including her that started on April 22.
ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin during her press conference in Seoul on April 25 (Screenshot from SBS News video on YouTube)
NewJeans (X)
The HYBE building on Yongsan, Seoul (Photos courtesy of Marina Im)
“HYBE secured substantial evidence to prove that Min deliberately led the plan to take over management control of the subsidiary, through the audit process,” HYBE said in a statement on April 25.
It added, “The evidence included detailed discussions that Min has ordered the ADOR management to find ways to pressure HYBE into ultimately selling ADOR's shares. One of the audited parties submitted information assets to seize the management of ADOR and to attempt to contact external investors. The auditee also admitted to creating the documents to attack HYBE.”
HYBE owns 80 percent of the shares in ADOR while Min Hee-jin owns 18 percent.
ADOR and Min Hee-jin earlier accused K-pop girl group ILLIT, which debuted in March under HYBE’s Belift Lab agency, of copying NewJeans.
“ILLIT is copying NewJeans in all areas of entertainment activities, including hair, makeup, costumes, choreography, photography, video, and event appearances,” ADOR said.
On April 26, Min Hee-jin held a press conference in Seoul to deny HYBE’s allegations including the takeover attempt of ADOR.
“I have no idea where the 'usurper' frame came from. We just said these things and said, 'HYBE has 80 percent of the company.' You have to know all the stories to understand all this,” she said, Korea JoongAng Daily reported.
She said, “NewJeans and I have something more than what you would know. They always tell me that they thank me and love me. Hanni told me that she'd come over to me. Haerin is usually like a cat and doesn't speak a lot, but she called me and told me that she couldn't come up with the words to text me. She said that she just wanted to hear my voice. Haerin cried for 20 whole minutes.”
“The members' mothers are so worried that I'm going to kill myself. But why would I? I'm going to say everything that I have in my heart,” she added.
In response to her statements in the press conference, HYBE, in a statement to Manila Bulletin, said, “There were countless claims CEO Min pointed out during her press conference that are far from the truth.”
“HYBE has all evidence to refute them, however, we decided they are not worth responding,” it said.
It added, “We cordially urge Min to stop lying, return the information assets and respond to the audit promptly. Also, we request her to refrain from mentioning the artist and their parents further, as it undermines the artist's value.”
In a press statement sent to Korean media outlets on April 25, HYBE said, “There are so many untrue facts that it is difficult to list them all. All claims can be refuted with evidence. However, we will faithfully inform you of facts that must be clearly disclosed from a management perspective during media inquiries.”
“As she has already proven himself unqualified to be a manager, we urge her to resign quickly for the normal management of ADOR,” HYBE said.
The rift between HYBE and Min Hee-jin came a month before NewJeans’ comeback in May.
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