Getting Hotter, Here's the Chronology of the 'Feud' Between CEO ADOR Min Hee Jin and HYBE

Kapanlagi.com - On April 22, the K-Pop world was shocked by the news that HYBE had taken on its role as a shareholder of HYBE after requesting a shareholders' meeting due to the power struggle between HYBE and CEO ADOR, Min Hee Jin. There were also rumors that HYBE asked Min Hee Jin to resign from her role as CEO.

After the initial report, further details about this issue were revealed. It was reported that HYBE had found evidence related to Min Hee Jin's attempt to leave HYBE and bring ADOR with her to become a separate entity. Let's find out more!

1. Accusations Against Min Hee Jin

ADOR

Shortly after the initial report about the feud between HYBE and Min Hee Jin emerged, news outlets discussed the accusations against Min Hee Jin that are still related to the information received by HYBE. In the report, several accusations included are as follows:

• The internal management of ADOR (Min Hee Jin, CEO A, and CEO B) received external consultation regarding the management of ADOR, which helped them devise a plan to take over the management rights from HYBE.
• Min Hee Jin, along with CEO A and CEO B, leaked information to foreign investment advisors, private equity firms, securities company analysts, and consultants, including contract information signed between ADOR and HYBE.
• Accusations that they secretly attempted to manipulate public opinion negatively towards HYBE's artists to create a bad impression of HYBE.
• Personal information of artists leaked, including photos and media of trainees before debut, as well as personal health information.

2. Alleged Coup by Min Hee Jin

Regarding the only artist ADOR, NewJeans, it is reported that they were used to help Min Hee Jin gain influence over HYBE to release equity in the company. Market Insight Hankyung News reported claims that Min Hee Jin plans to leverage her relationship with NewJeans to force HYBE to comply with her "demands".

Media outlet Dispatch then released further details about the alleged "coup", confirming many previous reports about Min Hee Jin wanting to make ADOR autonomous, her access to sensitive information, and evidence against her, including harassment of employees.

3. Min Hee Jin's Initial Statement

After all the controversies, Min Hee Jin made her first statement where she mentioned one of the reasons behind her conflict with HYBE is the new girl group BeLift Lab, ILLIT, which is suspected of plagiarizing the concept of NewJeans.

"The plagiarism of ILLIT towards NewJeans was not only done by BeLift Lab as a label, but it also became HYBE's concern. As a leading K-Pop company, HYBE has been blinded by profits, and shamelessly imitates successful cultural content. Instead of presenting something new, they only produce things that are unsightly... ADOR has never allowed anyone, whether it's HYBE, BeLift Lab, or any other label, to imitate the results of NewJeans," Min Hee Jin revealed.

4. Colliding Similarities between ILLIT and NewJeans

Following the mention of ILLIT, Min Hee Jin released a complete statement regarding the feud between ADOR and HYBE and her previous statement. In the report, Min Hee Jin claimed that her statements were made to protect NewJeans and "the healthy development of our music and cultural industry."

"One of the labels under HYBE, BeLift Lab, debuted ILLIT, a 5-member girl group, in March 2024. After the teaser photos of ILLIT were released, there was a strong reaction online, where people mistook them for NewJeans. The hair and makeup style, outfits, choreography, photos, videos, public events, etc. of ILLIT have copied NewJeans. There are reviews claiming that ILLIT is 'Min Hee Jin's style', 'Min Hee Jin's type', and even 'a subtype of NewJeans'. This is something that doesn't make them ashamed," said Min Hee Jin.

5. The Group Referred to as Male Version of NewJeans

On April 23, Yonhap News released an explosive report about Min Hee Jin's feud with HYBE. In their report, Yonhap News reported that Min Hee Jin claimed that there were other groups besides ILLIT that copied NewJeans.

According to Yonhap News, Min Hee Jin allegedly claimed that TWS from HYBE, as well as RIIZE from SM Entertainment, also copied NewJeans.

"We have been informed that in a meeting with CEO Min Hee Jin, she claimed that ILLIT, TWS, and RIIZE all imitated NewJeans," wrote Yonhap News.

6. Denial About the Plan to Break Away

On the same day, Ilgan Sports released their exclusive interview with Min Hee Jin. The interview was conducted at a critical time for the CEO as she faced pressure to step down from HYBE.

In the interview, Min Hee Jin denied the claims accusing her of trying to steal management rights and that she planned to break away from HYBE.

"I have never met any investors who seized HYBE's management rights (in ADOR). I have never attempted to steal executive rights as HYBE claims. How could I do that with my 18% equity (in ADOR)? Since HYBE has 80% equity, it is impossible for me to take over management rights. ADOR also cannot leave HYBE without their approval. It is difficult to understand why HYBE claims something impossible," said Min Hee Jin.

7. Similarity to FIFTY FIFTY Conflict

In her interview, Min Hee Jin also expressed the concerns of fans who are worried that the ADOR and HYBE feud will end up like the FIFTY FIFTY conflict.

"If money is my goal, I would never complain to HYBE. I think HYBE is trying to trap me as someone who is trying to steal management rights. However, the FIFTY FIFTY situation has become a precedent. I will never do something as foolish as that," said Min Hee Jin.

8. Documents Allegedly Becoming Evidence of Min Hee Jin's Plan

The problem becomes more complicated when Segye Ilbo reveals a document that is claimed to be evidence of Min Hee Jin's plan to leave HYBE. The document, which is a typing in Microsoft Word, is suspected to be typed by Min Hee Jin herself.

In the document, the writing allegedly typed by Min Hee Jin clearly states that the goal of the label is to leave HYBE.

"5. Goals
A. Finally leave HYBE.
B. Make sure no one from HYBE can disturb us (get total autonomy)."

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(kpl/rsp)