Min Hee-jin addresses ADOR-HYBE feud: “I didn’t create this fight”
ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin has addressed her ongoing feud with HYBE in a press conference held in Seoul, South Korea today (May 31).
Min Hee-jin’s press conference today, which takes place a month after the first of such in the saga between her and HYBE, lasted a little under two hours. During the event, the ADOR CEO touched on the future of K-pop girl group NewJeans, her alleged “betrayal” of HYBE and more.
In her opening statement, per Korea JoongAng Daily, Min spoke about how the period since the last press conference has been “the toughest” of her life, while thanking those who have supported and helped her. “There have been some good news, but there are many obstacles ahead of me,” she said.
“Ihe first thing that I want you all to understand is that [although] I’m the head of [a] HYBE subsidiary, but my first position is ADOR’s CEO,” the music executive said of the feud, insinuating that she couldn’t have “conducted a breach of trust to ADOR” because her “first priority is my position as ADOR’s CEO”.
Min then spoke about how the plans for upcoming NewJeans activities have been “all thrown up in the air because of the ongoing month-long battle”. Notably, prior to the feud, the girl group had announced several new music releases, as well as a world tour for 2025.
“My foremost goal is to carry out the plans as I wanted with no problems. And now, since HYBE is now listening to my side, I hope that we can amicably settle,” she added. “If I don’t do this, and NewJeans has to take leave until our organisational matters settle, who does that benefit?”
However, Min also added that “what will be done in the future remains to be seen” at this current juncture. “But if HYBE wants to develop ADOR and its vision for NewJeans, then they would need to discuss that with me,” he continued.
On the topic of her alleged “betrayal” of HYBE, the ADOR CEO said that she feels she “didn’t create this fight, from my perspective”. She added: “I think I felt that betrayal first, and HYBE broke that trust first. […] But as a subsidiary, what power do I have? I only have an 18 percent stake.”
Min the reiterated that “foremost priority” is as the CEO of ADOR, saying that if she “retain[s] loyalty to the parent company [of HYBE], that means I am betraying NewJeans and ADOR”.
“That’s why I separated the label and remain independent. If not, then I should be part of HYBE,” she added. “When I first made that decision, I was promised that my management would be intact, and I’ve done everything to prove I am suitable for the job.”
Earlier today, Min Hee-jin managed to retain her role as the CEO of ADOR, following a shareholders meeting, although two of her “close aides” have been dismissed from the board of the company. It comes a day after a Seoul court ruled in favour of an injunction filed by Min that prevented HYBE from exercising its voting rights.
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Puah Ziwei
NME
