Min Hee-jin Withdraws from Legal Dispute, NewJeans Faces Challenges Alone
On March 25, 2025, South Korean news outlet MediaUs published a report revealing that Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of ADOR, had exited the ongoing legal battle with HYBE sooner than anticipated. This development has left the members of NewJeans to navigate their challenges independently.
The conflict, initially focused on Min Hee-jin and HYBE, has evolved into a direct confrontation between NewJeans and ADOR. According to MediaUs, the situation escalated significantly during an emergency live broadcast on YouTube, where NewJeans members articulated their standpoint in the controversy. The report notes:
“New Jeans’ ‘de-Hive’ was triggered by the dispute between Min Hee-jin and Hive and is the final exit chosen by Min Hee-jin,”MediaUs asserted (as translated by Google).
Since the live event, Min Hee-jin has reportedly retreated from the public eye, allowing the NewJeans members to take the lead in defending their position.
“The point at which the fight between Min Hee-jin and HYBE turned into ‘New Jeans vs. Adore’ was the emergency live broadcast of New Jeans mentioned earlier,”MediaUs writes.
MediaUs has indicated that Min Hee-jin’s absence might be connected to her dismissal as ADOR’s CEO. They highlighted the potential complications of her continuing to guide NewJeans’ activities, emphasizing:
“If Min Hee-jin, who was dismissed as the representative of Adore and became a third party, continues to direct New Jeans’ actions as before, it could cause a controversy over ‘tampering’ by contacting singers whose contracts are still valid, and it would be disadvantageous in future legal disputes.”
“This is the background of New Jeans, who had always been active in the shadow of Min Hee-jin, suddenly being reborn as an ‘independent idol.’
NewJeans’ Strategy: Public Opinion Over Legal Battles
Rather than pursuing a traditional legal route, NewJeans appears to favor public engagement as a strategy to shape opinions and sway the outcome of their situation. Key moments, including their emergency live broadcast, Hani’s participation in a state audit, and a press conference, have all contributed to this approach.
The conflict is reported to have been sparked by comments from ILLIT’s manager, leading to a discussion surrounding idol rights that many see as pivotal in the K-pop industry. After a legal setback, NewJeans shared their perceptions with international media, describing their circumstances as reflective of “the reality of Korea”and “the darkness of K-pop.”The term “revolutionary,”which they used in a TIME interview, has been transformed into a meme within online communities, highlighting the shifting discourse around their identity.
Min Hee-jin Found Guilty of Workplace Bullying: Appeals Planned
Furthermore, on the same day, Min Hee-jin received a guilty verdict from South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor for workplace bullying. This decision was a result of a complaint filed by a former ADOR employee, known only as “B,”who accused her of harassment and mishandling a reported case of sexual harassment. An investigation carried out by the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office ultimately resulted in this ruling.
Min Hee-jin’s legal team has strongly disagreed with the verdict, citing inaccuracies in the interpretation of her statements and alleging a lack of objectivity in the investigation process. They have announced their intention to pursue an appeal against what they term an unjust decision.
“Upon reviewing the response regarding the handling of the case, it was confirmed that the facts surrounding the remarks that were determined to be workplace bullying were incorrectly acknowledged,”stated a representative of her legal team (via Legal Chosun).
In addition to challenging the ruling, her legal team criticized media portrayal of the verdict, asserting that it shouldn’t be viewed as final. They requested that journalists adhere to privacy guidelines and cautioned that legal action could be pursued if misleading reports continued.
For more details and ongoing updates about the situation, refer to the full article here: Read More.