Bang Si-hyuk and HYBE's Stern Criticism... "We Will Not Conform or Acquiesce"
Girl group NewJeans expressed their hope for the return of former CEO Min Hee-jin, demanding that HYBE and Chairman Bang Si-hyuk "restore ADOR to its original state by the 25th."
The five members of NewJeans said during a YouTube live broadcast on the afternoon of the 11th, "What we want is the original ADOR where CEO Min Hee-jin is in charge of integrated management and producing."
Since the conflict between former CEO Min and HYBE surfaced in April, the NewJeans members have supported her through court petitions and award ceremony speeches. However, this is the first time all members have publicly made specific demands against HYBE and Chairman Bang.
Member Minji explained, "We are making this request because it is a way to get along well without fighting with HYBE."
Former CEO Min was abruptly dismissed from her position as CEO of NewJeans’ agency ADOR on the 27th of last month, citing the "principle of separation between management and production." ADOR announced that Min would continue to handle producing, but she has refused, citing toxic clauses.
During the unannounced live broadcast, the NewJeans members criticized HYBE in a strong tone, saying, "What did we do wrong?" Daniel said, "I learned about the CEO’s dismissal through an article on the same day. It was so sudden and unimaginable that it was very difficult and confusing," adding, "As an artist under HYBE, such a unilateral notice from the company made me certain that 'they do not respect us at all.'"
She continued, "I want to ask where it is that HYBE’s side, instead of helping with promotion a week before NewJeans’ comeback, started with an article accusing CEO Min Hee-jin of breach of trust. How is that for NewJeans?"
Daniel emphasized, "Former CEO Min is the person who created the current NewJeans," adding, "She paid attention to even the smallest details. The unique tone and color were created by CEO Min Hee-jin, and she is a core and irreplaceable figure." She also said, "Please stop harassing our CEO Min Hee-jin on a human level," and added, "Honestly, I feel sorry for the CEO, and HYBE just looks like an inhumane company. What can we learn from watching such a company?"
Haerin said, "I do not want to conform, sympathize, or follow the society that those people (HYBE or the current ADOR management) belong to," and added, "And since that is absolutely not the direction I want, I will not choose to go that way."
Hyein also said, "HYBE’s way is not right," and added, "Please bring back CEO Min Hee-jin and restore ADOR to its original state, not with strangers. We will also do our jobs well in our place."
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