NewJeans Sends Certified Letter to Agency on 13th
"Demanding Former CEO Min Hee-jin's Return"
Group NewJeans has sent a certified letter regarding the 'request for correction of exclusive contract violations' to their agency ADOR, and ADOR announced on the 14th that they have received it.
An ADOR representative said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the same day, "We received the certified letter this morning," and added, "We are currently reviewing the contents and identifying the specific requests."
They continued, "We will do our best to resolve this wisely so that we can continue working with the artists."
Additionally, ADOR stated that regarding the involvement of a certain listed company and relatives of NewJeans members, as well as meetings between former CEO Min Hee-jin and the said company, "Former director Min has stated that these are 'groundless'." Min Hee-jin is currently an inside director at ADOR.
Through the certified letter sent the previous day, NewJeans demanded ▲ an official apology from the manager who told Hanni to "ignore it" ▲ deletion of videos and photos used without consent ▲ identification and resolution of damages caused by 'album pushing' to NewJeans ▲ resolution of disputes with director Shin Woo-seok of Dolphin Kidnapping Gang and the issue of existing works disappearing due to this ▲ protection of NewJeans' unique color and works.
In the certified letter, the five members of NewJeans added that "if these issues are not corrected within 14 days, we will terminate the exclusive contract."
NewJeans Demands Former CEO Min Hee-jin’s Return Through Certified Letter
Regarding the internal HYBE report revealed recently through the National Assembly audit and media reports, NewJeans also stated, "HYBE (ADOR’s parent company) decided to 'abandon New (referring to NewJeans) and reorganize anew,' and as NewJeans’ management company, take all necessary measures." They pointed out, "Among HYBE’s music industry reports (internal monitoring documents) confirmed during the recent National Assembly audit, there was a phrase saying, 'We suffered for days with the wording of NewAR (NewJeans, I-LAND, LE SSERAFIM), but it’s a matter of abandoning New and reorganizing anew.'"
NewJeans urged, "Clearly identify who decided and instructed to abandon NewJeans, ADOR’s only artist, and who committed misconduct following that instruction, and take civil and criminal actions against any discovered breach of trust or illegal acts during the process." They also demanded, "Prepare and provide NewJeans with audit reports and personnel action reports related to all these matters."
CEO Min Hee-jin holding a press conference regarding the temporary shareholders' meeting of ADOR. Photo by Yonhap News.
Finally, NewJeans asserted the demand for 'the return of former CEO Min Hee-jin.'
NewJeans said, "Please allow former CEO Min Hee-jin to handle ADOR’s management and NewJeans’ producing as before," emphasizing, "Restore ADOR to the state it was when NewJeans signed the exclusive contract and happily and joyfully promoted until March 2024. We miss NewJeans full of dreams with the music, stages, and new creative activities that we will show together with former CEO Min Hee-jin."
They also stressed, "There are baseless rumors circulating about the families and relatives of the current NewJeans members, but NewJeans has no connection to these rumors." They added, "If there are those who spread false rumors to slander NewJeans, we will respond firmly."
Meanwhile, NewJeans member Hanni shared her thoughts while cheering on exam-taking fans on the fan platform PONING on the night of the 13th. She said, "Just in case," and added, "Don’t worry about us. We think everyone faces important stages in life, and it just so happens that our timing overlaps. Don’t worry about us and take it easy."
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