Everything You Need To Know About HYBE And ADOR Min Hee Jin’s Ongoing Feud: Day One
This article is part of our coverage of HYBE vs. ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. You can read more and view the entire timeline here.
ADOR‘s CEO Min Hee Jin is currently embroiled in a “feud” with HYBE, and here’s everything that’s happened so far.
On April 22, the world of K-Pop was rocked when it was reported that HYBE had exercised its role as a shareholder of HYBE after requesting a shareholder’s meeting due to a power struggle between HYBE and ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. There were also rumors that HYBE had asked Min Hee Jin to step down from her role as CEO.
Following initial reports, more details about the issue came to light, with reports that HYBE had found evidence that Min Hee Jin was trying to leave HYBE and take ADOR with her to become a separate entity.
It wasn’t long before news outlets came out with the detailed allegations against Min Hee Jin that were linked to a tip-off that HYBE had received. In the report, some of the allegations included:
- ADOR’s internal management (Min Hee Jin, deputy CEOs A and B) received external consulting regarding ADOR management, which helped them set up a plan to take over management rights from HYBE.
- Min Hee Jin and deputy CEOs A and B leaked information to foreign investment advisors, private equity firms, securities firm analysts, and consultants, including contract information signed between ADOR and HYBE.
- Accusations that they had secretly tried to manipulate public opinion on HYBE artists negatively to create a bad impression for HYBE.
- Private artists’ information was leaked, including photos and media of the trainees before their debut, as well as personal health information.
Regarding ADOR’s only artist, NewJeans, it was reported that they were being used to help Min Hee Jin get leverage over HYBE to relinquish equity in the company. Hankyung News’s Market Insight reported a claim that Min Hee Jin had planned on leveraging her relationship with NewJeans to force HYBE into giving in to her “demands.”
Media outlet Dispatch then released more details about her alleged “coup,” confirming many of the previous reports about Min Hee Jin wanting to make ADOR autonomous, her access to sensitive information, and evidence against her, including abusing employees.
Dispatch Unleashes Shocking Details About ADOR Min Hee Jin’s HYBE Coup
After all the controversies, Min Hee Jin made her first statement where she cited one of the reasons behind her “feud” with HYBE was BELIFT LAB’s new girl group, ILLIT, allegedly plagiarizing NewJeans’ concept.
ILLIT’s imitation of NewJeans was not carried out by BeLift Lab alone as a label, but is something that concerns HYBE as well. As a leading company in K-Pop, HYBE has been blinded by profits, and are copying successful cultural content without any hesitation. Rather than showing something new, they are simply producing banality…
…ADOR has never allowed anyone, be it HYBE, BeLift Lab, or other labels, to copy NewJeans’ output.
— Min Hee Jin
Following her mention of ILLIT, Min Hee Jin released a full statement regarding ADOR’s feud with HYBE and her previous statement. In the report, Min Hee Jin claimed her statement was made to protect NewJeans and “the healthy development of our country’s music and culture industry.”
One of the labels under HYBE, BeLift Lab, debuted ILLIT, a 5-member girl group, in March 2024. After ILLIT’s teaser photos were released, there was an explosive reaction online, with people who thought ‘it was NewJeans.’ ILLIT’s hair and makeup styles, outfits, choreographies, photos, videos, public events, etc. have been copying NewJeans. There have been reviews claiming that ILLIT is ‘Min Hee Jin’s style,’ ‘Min Hee Jin’s type,’ and even a ‘NewJeans subtype.’ This can’t be something that they’re not embarrassed about.
— Min Hee Jin
HYBE reportedly has given Min Hee Jin until April 23 to respond to its request for a shareholders meeting. It will be interesting to see how both sides continue to react to the ongoing allegations and how they will impact the artists.
