Min Hee Jin leaves HYBE and ADOR amid ongoing disputes.
Former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin has announced her departure from HYBE and ADOR. On November 20th KST, Min released a statement saying, “Today, I have terminated the shareholders’ agreement with HYBE and resigned from my position as an internal director at ADOR.”
She further explained, “Over the past seven months, during a prolonged and distressing dispute with HYBE that began with illegal audits in April, I have done everything within my power to restore ADOR to its original state before April.”
Min revealed that she had hoped HYBE would acknowledge its mistakes and that she had worked tirelessly to protect NewJeans amid a distorted internal environment at HYBE. She cited her internal whistleblowing emails in April as part of her efforts.
Min criticized HYBE’s actions, stating, “Rather than showing remorse, HYBE fabricated baseless falsehoods, turning its shameful illegal audit into a public spectacle—a reckless and unprecedented act of foolishness.” She accused Hybe of framing her with accusations of “usurping management rights” and engaging in unreasonable attacks, adding, “Their conduct is unbecoming of a major corporation, marked by ignorance and irrationality.”
She emphasized that her whistleblowing has now been proven legitimate, exposing HYBE’s alleged lies and hypocrisy, saying, “I never expected them to repent, but I did hope for some basic human decency—a belief that now seems naïve.”
Min expressed her disappointment, stating, “Hybe’s actions in 2024 will be remembered as an unprecedented stain in K-pop history. Although this incident is not yet resolved, I extend heartfelt gratitude to the fans, including NewJeans’ Bunnies, for their unwavering support over the past half year.”
Min concluded her statement with the words: “No single individual’s malicious actions should tarnish the essence of an industry. It was truly deplorable.”
Min’s departure comes five years after joining HYBE as Chief Brand Officer in 2019. She became Ador’s CEO in 2021, where she successfully launched NewJeans. The ongoing dispute between HYBE and Min, made public in April, has led to multiple legal battles.
Min recently notified HYBE of her intention to exercise a put option (right to sell her shares) regarding Ador stock, which may escalate into further litigation. HYBE, in July, informed Min of the termination of their shareholders’ agreement due to alleged breaches of trust, but Min countered that the agreement remains valid.
Adding to the controversy, NewJeans sent a notice to Ador on November 13th, demanding Min’s reinstatement and the normalization of Ador’s operations. The group also threatened to terminate their exclusive contracts if these demands were not met.
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