Adoer "Min Heejin Cannot Return as CEO... Offered to Produce NewJeans for 5 Years"

Hybe Proposes Compromise Through Official Statement

Group NewJeans' deadline for demanding the return of former ADORE CEO Min Hee-jin has arrived, but the parent company HYBE has stated that Min cannot return to the CEO position during the exclusive contract period.

Min Hee-jin, former CEO of ADOR.

On the 25th, HYBE announced in a statement, "ADORE has resolved at today's board meeting to convene an extraordinary general meeting to reappoint Director Min Hee-jin as an inside director."

Earlier, on September 11, ADORE proposed to former CEO Min that she take charge of producing NewJeans for the next five years. The five years correspond to the entire remaining contract period with NewJeans.

However, HYBE drew a clear line by stating that the ADORE board expressed a 'non-acceptance' stance regarding Min’s return to the CEO position.

The conflict between former CEO Min and HYBE, triggered by allegations of 'management rights takeover' in April, escalated to a crisis on August 27 when HYBE dismissed Min and appointed inside director Kim Joo-young as the new CEO.

Subsequently, on the 11th, the five NewJeans members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein held an emergency live broadcast on their YouTube channel. The members said, "What we want is the original ADORE where management and producing were integrated," and added, "We hope Chairman Bang Si-hyuk and HYBE will make a wise decision to normalize ADORE by the 25th as per our request," demanding Min’s return.

ADORE stated that even after Min Hee-jin’s dismissal, she would continue to handle NewJeans producing work, but Min refused to sign, claiming she was unilaterally dismissed by the company and that the producing delegation contract contained toxic clauses. Currently, producing by Min is practically impossible within the ADORE system.

HYBE said, "Since basic guarantees regarding the status, period, and authority as the PD in charge of NewJeans production have been made, we expect negotiations on specific conditions to take place in the future."

They also explained to the NewJeans members, "We have provided detailed answers via email today regarding the matters discussed at the board meeting and various inquiries."

Below is the full statement from HYBE

ADORE has resolved at today’s board meeting to convene an extraordinary general meeting to reappoint Director Min Hee-jin as an inside director.

Earlier, on the morning of September 11, ADORE already proposed to Director Min Hee-jin to take charge of producing NewJeans for the next five years. The five years correspond to the entire remaining contract period with NewJeans.

However, the ADORE board discussed today that the demand for her return to the CEO position is currently not acceptable.

Since basic guarantees regarding the status, period, and authority as the PD in charge of NewJeans production have been made, we expect negotiations on specific conditions to take place in the future.

We have provided detailed answers via email today to the NewJeans members regarding the matters discussed at the board meeting and various inquiries.