The disputes between HYBE and Min Hee-jin seem to have snowballed in the past couple of days.
Last August 27, 2024, ADOR announced that Min Hee-jin has been dismissed from her position as CEO and has been replaced by Human Resources Expert Kim Joo-young. This announcement also stated that Min Hee-jin will continue under ADOR as an internal director, where she will still oversee the production of NewJeans.
However, a representative of Min Hee-jin said that the decision “was made unilaterally without her consent,” which was a clear violation of the shareholder agreement that she and HYBE had.
The representative continued on saying, “The company announced that CEO Min Hee-jin would continue producing for NewJeans, but this was not discussed with her and is a unilateral notification from the company.”
Not too soon after, Shin Woo-seok, the director of NewJeans’ music videos for “Ditto,” “ETA,” and “OMG,” abruptly announced the termination of his partnership with ADOR on his social media.
Shin Woo-seok said, “It seems there have been changes in ADOR’s policies following the change in management.” He also mentioned that ADOR had asked him to delete all NewJeans’ related content that they have worked on. Shin then said, “As of today, it seems impossible for Dolphin Kidnapping to continue collaborating with ADOR.”
The statement came after fans saw that Dolphin Kidnapping had deleted all videos under the “Ban Hee-soo” YouTube channel, which saw some behind-the-scenes content from NewJeans’ “Ditto” and “OMG” era.
240903 Shin Wooseok instagram story
What on earth are you saying? Today, I reconfirmed over the phone the agreement we made regarding the upload of the director's cut. The three companies involved in the production at the time agreed to release the director's cut on Dolphiners’… pic.twitter.com/WhKF57okDW
— 1tokki (@juantokki) September 3, 2024
In response, ADOR refuted the statement made by Shinn Woo-seok and also accused the latter of spreading false information.
안녕하세요. 어도어입니다.
돌고래유괴단의 신우석 감독이 9월 2일 본인의 인스타그램을 통해 게시한 입장문 관련하여 어도어의 입장을 알려드립니다.
돌고래유괴단이 자체 SNS 채널에 올린 ETA 뮤직비디오 디렉터스 컷은 과거 광고주와도 이견이 있었던 부분이 포함된 편집물로, 광고주와의 협의…
— ADOR (@alldoorsoneroom) September 2, 2024
In the statement, ADOR said that they only requested to remove the director’s cut video and did not ask to delete or stop the uploading of any other NewJeans content, including the Ban Hee-soo channel. ADOR also said that “Director Shin Woo-seok’s claims are significantly different from the facts, and we strongly regret the breach of contract and the dissemination of false information by the Dolphin Kidnapping Group.”
ADOR clarified that because the copyright of the music video and all content related to NewJeans belongs to ADOR, the “ETA” music video and the director’s cut should be on their official channel.
Amidst all the news, the NewJeans members have spoken up in one way or another, drawing concern from their fans, Bunnies.
NewJeans’ Minji, for example, had posted a long message on their fan communication platform, Phoning, about her feelings regarding the past weeks on September 2, 2024.
[📅🐻] 240902 MINJI PHONING CALENDAR UPDATE #NewJeans #뉴진스 #MINJI pic.twitter.com/k6JZwN68mW
— NewJeans Updates (@UpdatesNewJeans) September 2, 2024
Member Danielle also revealed that she “had been struggling and dealing with a lot of worries” since the dismissal of Min Hee-jin, but also expressed how she wanted to stay positive for their fans despite everything.
📰 NewJeans Open Up About the Controversy Between HYBE and ADOR
Anxious Feelings The members revealed that they wanted to show only their bright side to fans, but the situation has been tough. Minji and Danielle shared their feelings directly on Phoning. pic.twitter.com/RGwDnRUl6G
— ILLIJEAN MEDIA (@ILLIJEANMEDIA) September 3, 2024
Two members now…let's hope they all feel this way so they can leave with her 🙏 pic.twitter.com/M826s8JTj5
— ηєνα ρℓαу with Nabi (@busanbreeeze) September 2, 2024
Member Hanni also took to social media to convey her feelings, posting a self-composed song on their X account.
https://x.com/NewJeans_twt/status/1830619824365723924
NewJeans’ fans, Bunnies, showed their support for NewJeans on social media, specifically using the hashtags #HYBE_STOP_SABOTAGING_NEWJEANS and #WeLoveYouNewJeans. Bunnies also called out HYBE for deliberately damaging the reputation of one of their arists, posting photos of them flipping the company off.
#HYBE_STOP_SABOTAGING_NEWJEANS#NEWJEANSNEVERDIE#WeLoveYouNewJeanspic.twitter.com/WkDQech4QA
— newjeans ྀི hạnh phúc nhé (@crushonnewjeans) September 2, 2024
I’m sorry but newjeans are seeing their hard work be flushed down the drain by petty hybe executives and y’all really expect these girls to not be against them 😭
— bee 𖼐꒱ (@j3anies) September 2, 2024
#하이브어도어_뉴진스지우기_작작해#HYBE_STOP_SABOTAGING_NEWJEANSpic.twitter.com/VmmDdLoku3
— brandon (be random) 🫧 (@minjisbangs) September 2, 2024
#HYBE_STOP_SABOTAGING_NEWJEANS pic.twitter.com/qRXYRxYEPm
— 🍓 (@adorjeans1) August 30, 2024
just let out a sob..#하이브어도어_뉴진스지우기_작작해 #HYBE_STOP_SABOTAGING_NEWJEANS pic.twitter.com/2Vp2JClZys
— ☘︎ (@nwjnsbts) September 2, 2024
Hybe lied about everything
We all stand with NewJeans pic.twitter.com/dbh7X3PsJm— Lia ʚɞ (@Liatokii) September 2, 2024
NewJeans don’t be blue#하이브어도어_뉴진스지우기_작작해 #HYBE_STOP_SABOTAGING_NEWJEANS #HYBEによるNewjeansへの妨害に抗議します pic.twitter.com/aS99hodnFG
— Niniz ✦ (@niniznewjns) September 3, 2024
This is an abuse of power. NewJeans deserve better HYBE claimed to support them, but instead, they're destroying their connections and support system. As they are known to overwork their artists for profit.
NewJeans isn’t safe with hybe #하이브어도어_뉴진스지우기_작작해 https://t.co/qkEP8LCRaW pic.twitter.com/i858jlHAy8
— ri 𑁍 (@tokkiga) September 2, 2024
YOU WILL ROT#하이브어도어_뉴진스지우기_작작해#HYBE_STOP_SABOTAGING_NEWJEANS
pic.twitter.com/ybLPWtNr0D— 𓃺 (@savagehanni) September 2, 2024
To Bunnies, 🫂❤️🩹
🐰+💙🩷💛💚💜+🧢=💫#하이브어도어_뉴진스지우기_작작해#HYBE_STOP_SABOTAGING_NEWJEANS pic.twitter.com/ILnF20k24O— YU LIN CHEN (@YULINCH08253119) September 2, 2024
people being so supportive of newjeans just truly says it all…. HYBE STOP SABOTAGING NEWJEANS#하이브어도어_뉴진스지우기_작작해#HYBE_STOP_SABOTAGING_NEWJEANS pic.twitter.com/rk49hnI45J
— rere (@aerigummz) September 2, 2024
On September 4, 2024, Bunnies posted an open letter addressed to the highest ranking board members of HYBE and ADOR, demanding that Min Hee-jin be reinstated as CEO. In the letter, the 1,445 fans of NewJeans expressed their concerns about how the change of management could negatively impact NewJeans’ future as a group.
The letter also demanded that the agreement made with Min Hee-jin’s term as CEO be guaranteed, further emphasizing how Min was crucial to NewJeans’ success since their debut.
Bunnies said, “We believe that the success NewJeans has achieved in such a short period was made possible through the close synergy between management and production, and this has been prove by the results.” They continued on saying, “We are concerned that the personnel and other systems of ADOR, which have been focused on supporting NewJeans’ growth since its debut, may be altered or damaged.”
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