Former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin, embroiled in an ongoing conflict with HYBE, has reaffirmed her determination to continue pursuing her plans with NewJeans.

On October 15, Japan’s TV Asahi and ANN’s 'News Station' aired an interview with Min Hee Jin, marking her first appearance since her removal as ADOR’s CEO in August. However, ADOR initially stated that she would continue serving as an internal director and overseeing the group’s production.

In the interview, Min Hee Jin clarified her current role: “I’m no longer a producer or a CEO,” she said. “But I’m still handling the practical tasks I had planned and initiated because I can’t just walk away from them.” She explained that while she continues working with the NewJeans members, there is uncertainty regarding the next steps. “I really want to resolve this situation quickly,” she added.

When asked about NewJeans’ future, Min Hee Jin admitted, “I don’t know. I’m not a fortune teller—I’m just leaving it up to fate.” She also touched on their original plans, explaining, “We were supposed to start a world tour next year, and I had already begun planning an album set to be released early in the year. But no one could have predicted this situation.”

Min Hee Jin also referenced Hanni’s recent appearance as a witness at the National Assembly hearing. She commented, “Since Hanni’s mother isn’t in Seoul right now, I naturally feel responsible for being her support here. Someone has to be there for them.”

She went on to say, “The mothers of all the members are around my age. It’s like how parents might naturally introduce things to their children, saying, ‘Mom and Dad used to enjoy this—why don’t you give it a try?’ I have no intention of creating avatars out of the members. They each have distinct personalities and different tastes.”

Min Hee Jin has consistently argued that ADOR’s board made unlawful decisions regarding her removal. In the interview, she questioned the board’s actions: “They accused me of breach of trust but still offered me a producer role. How can they believe I’m guilty while offering me that position? It’s contradictory.”

Speaking about her decision to join ADOR, Min Hee Jin explained, “I wanted to create a new type of label that could lead a new wave of K-pop. HYBE suggested we build it together, and I chose that option from many others. If the conditions hadn’t been guaranteed, I wouldn’t have joined.”

Min Hee Jin has since filed an injunction, challenging the ADOR board’s decision to remove her and seeking reappointment. She explained her pursuit of ADOR’s management, saying, “At SM Entertainment, I was limited to production, which caused creative dilemmas. To achieve my goals and execute the plans I’ve laid out, production, investment, and management must work together. Efficiency depends on how we manage and allocate costs.”

In conclusion, Min Hee Jin emphasized, “This issue affects the lives of everyone working with me, which is why I’m fighting. I don’t see this as the end but as a temporary pause. This dispute will eventually be resolved, and no matter what, I will do everything I can to carry out the plans for NewJeans.”

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