NewJeans' 'identity' member voted by 5,400 people

SOURCE: 5400명이 투표한 뉴진스 정체성 멤버

1. Who is the most 'NewJeans' member?

Minji: 36% (2020 votes)
Hanni: 10% (557 votes)
Danielle: 1% (109 votes)
Haerin: 8% (475 votes)
Hyein: 18% (1033 votes)
Are you crazy? I absolutely can't pick just one: 23% (1276 votes)

2. Who is the second most 'NewJeans' member?

Minji: 37% (3187 votes)
Hanni: 18% (1606 votes)
Danielle: 3% (303 votes)
Haerin: 16% (1445 votes)
Hyein: 23% (1970 votes)

I'm sharing this because I find this interesting. This is not a popularity vote, so please avoid leaving mean commentsㅠㅠ

COMMENTS

-I think it's totally Minjiㅋㅋ

-All five of them!! I want to see them again soon.

-I also think it's Minjiㅋㅋㅋ I really want to see NewJeans soon.

-I personally like Hanni the most and think she's the most charming, but when someone asks me this, Minji is the first one to come to my mind.

-I like Haerin the most, but if I had voted on this, I probably would've picked Minjiㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Minji... She stood out the most from the very first time I saw them. I miss NewJeansㅠㅠ

-I think Hyein definitely stood out the most during 'Attention' era!

-I thought of Minji first too, then Haerin.

-Their debut with 'Attention' was a huge shock... Minji, Hyein, and Haerin were the ones that left deep impressions on me. But honestly, think all of the members are the 'identity' of NewJeans. It changes depending on the song.

-Oh... I thought of Hanni. She's so unique that when I think of NewJeans, Hanni is the first I can think of. For Minji, I think she's the center of the group.

-I also think of Minji first when I think of NewJeans.

-If I had to pick just one, it's Minji. But the chemistry of all five members is really great.

-All five of them are amazing and charming, but Minji is the first one I think of.

-There's a reason why people say, 'NewJeans doesn't have a leader, but they have Minji.'

-Minji's face is the first one you see in the 'Attention' MV, so I think it's Minji.

Continue reading NewJeans' 'identity' member voted by 5,400 people

Min Heejin proposes, "Bang Sihyuk, let's meet as creators" ... Press conference ends in just 5 minutes

SOURCE: 민희진 "방시혁, 창작의 자리서 만나자" 제안…5분 만에 회견 종료 (엑's 현장)[전문]

CEO of OOAK Records (and former CEO of ADOR) Min Heejin publicly proposed to HYBE to end all disputes.

On the 25th, after winning the first trial against HYBE in the lawsuit seeking payment for her shares, Min Heejin held a press conference in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

This day, Min Heejin started by greeting the reporters and shared, "Hello. The result of this lawsuit felt like comfort that has washed away the wounds of the past two years."

She continued, "I have decided to exchange the 25.6 billion KRW I won from the trial for another value," explaining the reason for the press conference. She added, "There is something I value much more than this large sum of money. Therefore, I would like to make a meaningful proposal to HYBE."

Min Heejin proposed, "I will give up the 25.6 billion KRW. In exchange, I propose that all ongoing lawsuits be immediately halted and that all disputes to be ended immediately." She emphasized that this decision is for the sake of NewJeans' members. She noted that this proposal includes ending all legal actions not only against herself, but also NewJeans' members, external partner companies, former ADOR employees, and the fans.

She added sadly, "I can no longer bear to watch the five members who should be happily standing on stage, standing in court instead."

She ten proposed, "HYBE and Chairman Bang Sihyuk. Let us now meet as creators, not in the courtroom."

Previously, on the 12th, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed the lawsuit HYBE had filed to seek confirmation of termination of the shareholder agreement with Min Heejin. In the separate lawsuit that Min Heejin had filed regarding the exercise of her 'put option,' the court ruled that HYBE must pay her approximately 25.5 billion KRW.

However, HYBE has appealed the ruling of the first trial, which means that the legal battle is expected to continue in a second trial. Although Min Heejin applied for seizure and collection orders against HYBE's claims (bank accounts), HYBE requested the court to pause the payment until the ruling is finalized. The court accepted HYBE's request, temporarily suspending the seizure process.

Below is the full statement by Min Heejin.

Hello, this is Min Heejin.

First of all, I would like to express my deep respect and gratitude to the court for examining the essence of this case over a long period of time and making a clear decision.

From winning the injunction in 2024 to the police clearing me in 2025, and now winning this first trial in 2-26, it has truly been a long tunnel.

The court showed the claims of 'taking over management' and 'tampering' were not true and recognized that the concerns I raised about creative ethics were part of my job as a CEO.

The result of this lawsuit felt like comfort that has washed away the wounds of the past two years. At the same time, I feel bad for the stress this unintentionally caused to the public.

Now, I want to pay back that debt with a new vision for K-pop.

The reason I stand here today is to announce that I have decided to exchange the 25.6 billion KRW I have won for another value.

Among all the reasons behind this decision, the most urgent one is because of NewJeans' members.Among all the reasons behind this decision, the most urgent one is because of NewJeans' members.

I will give up the 25.6 billion KRW. In exchange, I propose that all ongoing lawsuits be immediately halted and that all disputes to be ended immediately. This proposal includes ending all legal actions not only against myself, but also NewJeans' members, external partner companies, former ADOR employees, and the fans.

Only when all these lawsuits end will the noise stop for the artists, their families, and the fans.

I can no longer bear to watch the five members who should be happily standing on stage, standing in court instead. The members on stage must also be suffering. Neither the fans or anyone else can look at this situation with happiness. We can never create a good culture with hearts that are torn apart like this.

As I have said many times, there are values more important than money to me. Now that my sincerity has been confirmed, I want to show that there are values more precious than money in this world.

I hope this decision to exchange 25.6 billion KRW for another value will help the overall development and unity within the K-pop industry.

The place where HYBE and I should be is not a court, but a stage for creation.

I had a creative vision when I launched NewJeans. I'm very sad that I couldn't finish it, but because of that, I ask ADOR to keep the promise they made in court to 'treat NewJeans well if they return.'

Please create an environment where all five members of NewJeans can be together and freely pursue their dreams.

To me, 25.6 billion KRW is not more important than estoring a healthy K-pop ecosystem and the artists' peace.

Now, I hope we all do our best in our own ways to present better stages to fans.

I propose that we adults go back to competing through music and stage, not in court. The longer this fight goes on, the more the true protagonists of this industry, which is the artists, suffer.

HYBE and Chairman Bang Sihyuk. Let us now meet as creators, not in the courtroom. In a time when company responsibility is very important, including the July 2025 revision of the Commercial Act, choosing to resolve risks in the entertainment industry and to pursue unity would be the wisest management decisions for shareholders and fans.

I will now leave behind the title of 'Former CEO of ADOR' and walk a new path as 'CEO of OOAK Records.' I will put all my energy to nurture new artists and build a new business direction that represents the K-pop industry.

Thank you to the media for coming today. I hope there are no more tiring press conferences after this.

I will now meet you on a creative stage, not in a press conference or courtroom. I will focus on what I do best, which is creative work. I hope my sincerity today becomes a turning point for the entire K-pop industry to breathe healthily again.

Today, the KOSPI surpassed 6,000. I hope HYBE will think carefully and consider this proposal so we can all succeed together.

Continue reading Min Heejin proposes, "Bang Sihyuk, let's meet as creators" ... Press conference ends in just 5 minutes

Min Heejin, trying to save Danielle? "I will give up 25.6 billion KRW, so please let the 5 members of NewJeans reunite"

SOURCE: 민희진, 다니엘 살리기? "256억 포기할테니 뉴진스 5인 모이게 해달라"

Min Heejin announced that she is willing to give up her 25.6 billion KRW 'put option' for NewJeans.

On the 25th, CEO of OOAK Records (and former CEO of ADOR) Min Heejin held a press conference in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

On the 12th, the Seoul Central District ruled in favor of Min Heejijn in the lawsuits filed by HYBE, seeking confirmation of the termination of the shareholder agreement, and Min Heejin, seeking payment for shares. The court ordered HYBE to pay Min Heejin 25.5 billion KRW for her shares.

At the press conference, Min Heejin said, "I held this press conference to make a meaningful offer to HYBE. Among all the reasons behind this decision, the most urgent one is because of NewJeans' members." She added, "I will give up the 25.6 billion KRW. In exchange, I propose that all ongoing lawsuits be immediately halted and that all disputes to be ended immediately."

She emphasized, "I can no longer bear to watch the five members who should be happily standing on stage, standing in court instead. The members on stage must also be suffering. Neither the fans or anyone else can look at this situation with happiness." She added, "We can never create a good culture with hearts that are torn apart like this."

She continued, "I had a creative vision when I launched NewJeans. I'm very sad that I couldn't finish it, but because of that, I ask ADOR to keep the promise they made in court to 'treat NewJeans well if they return.'" She proposed, "Please create an environment where all five members of NewJeans can be together and freely pursue their dreams."

NewJeans unilaterally declared the termination of their exclusive contracts in November 2024, but the court ruled in favor of ADOR. As a result, Haerin, Hyein, and Hanni returned to ADOR, while Minji is still in discussions with the agency. However, ADOR notified Danielle of the termination of her exclusive contract and announced legal action at the same time, saying, "We will hold one family member of Danielle and former CEO Min Heejin legally responsible for causing this dispute, NewJeans' departure, and delaying the members' return."

Continue reading Min Heejin, trying to save Danielle? "I will give up 25.6 billion KRW, so please let the 5 members of NewJeans reunite"

Why NewJeans 'went downhill' while Min Heejin 'survived'

SOURCE: 뉴진스는 ‘망했’는데, 민희진은 ‘회생’한 이유

NewJeans suffered a 'complete defeat,' but their so-called 'mother' Min Heejin (former CEO of ADOR, current CEO of OOAK Records) achieved a 'complete victory.' Some NewJeans' members were judged to have joined a planned media battle and now face lawsuits seeking hundreds of billions of KRW in penalties. Meanwhile Min Heejin, who was accused of making the plan, successfully recovered and secured 25.5 billion KRW from her 'put option.'

According to the first trial rulings of two separate lawsuits on the 23rd, the different courts for NewJeans' contract termination case (Civil Division 41) and Min Heejin's 'put option' case (Civil Division 31) reached different conclusions on the same issues and evidence, causing confusion.

■ The same ‘independence plan’: 'A planned trick' vs. 'Not a reason to strip hundreds of billions'

The main contradiction is how the two courts interpreted the Kakao Talk evidence containing Min Heejin's 'media battle plan.'

In the NewJeans case, the court focused on Min Heejin's alleged instruction for an executive to ghostwrite statements for the parents. She said, "It would be better if the mothers report it to the Fair Trade Commission," and "I don't actually care about improving punishments... The goal is the public announcement."

That court concluded that this was "Min Heejin's tampering is a pre-meditated planning for her own independence, not to protect NewJeans," and dismissed NewJeans' claims.

However, the court in Min Heejin's case saw it differently.

While acknowledging that Min Heejin's media play may have been improper, the court ruled that it was not a serious crime enough to take away her right to hundreds of billions of KRW. This court stated, "To break a shareholder agreement involving financial interests, such as a put option estimated at up to 100 billion KRW by 2025, there must be a 'serious violation,' not just a loss of trust."

The court viewed Min Heejin's independence plans as just 'private talk' that was never carried out or was based on getting HYBE's approval. Therefore, the court felt it was not a reason to revoke her 'put option.'

■ Subject of ‘betrayal’: 'NewJeans' sudden termination' VS 'HYBE's sudden media play'

The courts also disagreed on who broke the trust first.

The court for NewJeans' case called the group's sudden contract termination as 'an intentional act to worsen the conflict by creating the 'appearance' that the other side (HYBE) did something wrong in order to avoid penalties.' It found that NewJeans sided with Min Heejin's plan and unilaterally destroyed trust.

On the other hand, the court for Min Heejin's case pointed to HYBE as the party who damaged the trust. The court noted, "Min Heejin's complaints remained internal until HYBE made them fully public through an exclusive article on April 22, 2024."

■ Reassessment of allegations: Acknowledging the practices of 'pushing out' album sales

The suspicions raised by Min Heejin about ILLIT copying NewJeans and that HYBE engaged in 'pushing out' album sales also received opposite interpretations.

The court for NewJeans' case treated these as 'excuses made quickly to end the contract,' but the court for Min Heejin's case judged them as a 'fair internal whistleblowing and an exercise of managerial rights.'

The court for Min Heejin's case specifically stated that HYBE's practices of 'pushing out' album sales actually happened.

This court stated, "At the time, HYBE's CEO Park Jiwon appeared to have suggested 'pushing out' NewJeans' album sales to ADOR. Also, the head of HYBE Japan planning team used the term 'pushing volume' on August 4, 2023. There is evidence to suspect this," adding, "Inflating first-week sales to promote chart rankings harms fair distribution and deserves criticism."

Furthermore, the court stated, "Min Heejin's allegations may have helped ADOR by preventing it from happening again and establishing the market order." The court considered her actions as raising issues of public interest, as she called for investigation and countermeasures regarding matters that could disturb the album market order at a major corporation like HYBE."

Regarding ILLIT's plagiarism allegations, the court also cleared her, saying, "It was a management decision to protect her key asset (NewJeans) and it was a fair issue to raise. It did not constitute the spread of false information."

Continue reading Why NewJeans 'went downhill' while Min Heejin 'survived'

"They even met the Japanese aristocrat grandfather" ... Min Heejin, the one behind NewJeans' downfall

SOURCE: [단독] "일본 귀족 할아버지도 만났다"...민희진, 뉴진스 파국의 설계

NewJeans stated at their contract termination press conference: “We will carry out all previously scheduled activities as planned.” (November 28, 2024)

The very next day, they changed their words, informing ADOR that they refuse to participate in activities: “We don’t think we’ll be able to film content for the Japanese fan club.” (November 29, 2024)

NewJeans boycotted the filming for fan club kit, New Year's greetings, and ID that are usually done every January. Instead, they flew to Japan to meet a grandfather. His name is Kazumichi Goh, known to be a Japanese aristocrat. He is 73 years olds.

Who called (NewJeans?) It was Min Heejin.

① The Aristocrat Grandfather

Kazumichi Goh, born in 1954, is a big name in the Japanese racing world. He started 'Team Goh' in 1996 and won the championship at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 2004.

He is known as a wealthy businessman. His maternal grandfather was Shojiro Ishibashi, the founder of Bridgestone. Meanwhile, his paternal granfather is Goh Takasaburo, who served as an executive director at Nissin Seifun Group.

Min Heejin reportedly met Kazumichi Goh at the end of 2024. According to an insider, it was not just for a social gathering. A source claimed, "At the time, Min Heejin needed money. Then, she was introduced to the Japanese grandfather."

Min Heejin even called NewJeans to Tokyo. She gathered the whole group to meet this grandfather. Kazumichi Goh is said to be a huge fans of NewJeans. It appears that Min Heejin took advantage of this fact.

② The Tokyo Meetings

According to Dispatch's investigation, NewJeans met this grandfather in Japan at least three times. The whole group reportedly traveled together in January to see him. They also went in March and April, both separately and together.

NewJeans also celebrated this grandfather's special day, reportedly presenting him birthday gifts and handwritten letters. An insider close to NewJeans said, "Min Heejin told them he was an important person. The members were confused, but they still prepared the gifts as they were told."

What was Min Heejin 'planning' with this grandfather? A source speculated, "They began meeting after declaring the contract termination. It seems like they discussed investments."

In March 2025, NewJeans released 'Pitstop' under the name NJZ. Was it a tribute song for Kazumichi Goh? It could be, especially considering that ComplexCon was also a project led by Min Heejin.

③ “Pitstop”

On March 7, 2025, at the Seoul Central District Court, the court asked, "How are you preparing for the Hong Kong performance?" Even in court that day, NewJeans' side covered for Min Heejin. They reportedly lied to the court, saying, "The organizer is providing support."

"We haven't yet secured a production company or an agent for the show yet. We will do that once the court decision is out and problems are solved. For now, the organizer is providing the necessary staff." (Sejong)

Dispatch obtained the contract between NewJeans and Hong Kong ComplexCon. NewJeans' appearance fee was 350,000 USD. That is approximately 500 million KRW. The consulting fee was 500,000 USD (including staff expenses and other fees).

Min Heejin, the members' parents, and the lawyers reportedly discussed the contract in a group chart. They finalized it on December 18, 2024. However, Min Heejin did not put her name on the front to avoid legal problems such as 'tampering.'

④ Hong Kong Search

NewJeans used this stage as a stepping stone for their independent activities. They went ahead with the performance and unveiled their new song 'Pitstop' against the court's decision. What did Min Heejin want to show at the Hong Kong show?

Bonnie Chan Woo. She is a leading figure in Chinese pop culture industry. As the CEO of 'Complex China,' she hosted the Hong Kong show. It turns out, Bonnie had even sent a proposal to purchase ADOR from HYBE in October last year.

It is reported that Bonne offered to buy 80% of ADOR's shares for 400 billion KRW. In exchange she added the condition: "Hand over 100% of the rights to the artists' contracts and all management."

"We discussed this with NewJeans' representatives. They said that even if they lose the lawsuit, they have no intention of returning. If we acquire the shares, we plan to restart their creative work, including music production and shows, immediately." (Bonnie)

Who exactly are the 'NewJeans representatives' Bonnie refers to? The clear fact is that Min Heejin was constantly involved in the decision-making process. She was the unseen hand that prolonged NewJeans' dispute.

⑤ Claiming Damages

On March 21, 2025, NewJeans' independent activities were halted. The court accepted ADOR's request to 'preserve its status as the group's agency.' NewJeans reached a point where they couldn't leave ADOR to work independently.

However, on March 23, NewJeans announced, "We will attend Hong Kong ComplexCon under the name NJZ." At the same time, Min Heejin and Danielle's mother reportedly built the narrative that 'NewJeans and ADOR can not be together."

The following is a conversation between Min Heejin and Danielle's mother, obtained by Dispatch:

Danielle's mother: Can't the members refuse to attend ADOR events, saying they are under psychological pressure?

Danielle's mother: I think that would be helpful for the main lawsuit.

Min Heejin: Yes. Please post that on the (NJZ) PR account.

Danielle's mother: We should respond by saying they're anxious because they don't know how ADOR might interfere or hurt them.

Min Heejin: Please write it briefly. I will edit it.

Min Heejin reportedly wanted to overturn the court's decision in the main lawsuit. By claiming psychological distress and saying that 'The members feel anxious if ADOR is involved,' she attempted to build a reason to invalidate the exclusive contract. The person who edited this statement, according to the report, was Min Heejin.

⑥ Contract Termination

Min Heejin won the 'put option' lawsuit. The key to her victory was the court's argument that 'there were attempts, but they were not carried out.' In other words, a failed attempt became the reason she secured 25.5 billion KRW.

However, Min Heejin did more than just plan. She actually put her plans into action. According to the report, NewJeans' press conference declaring contract termination at 7.30 PM on November 28, 2024, was her work.

Dispatch obtained evidence that Min Heejin directed the event from behind the scenes. There is also testimony that Min Heejin personally wrote the script for the press conference and had the members memorize it.

Min Heejin was also reportedly involved in preparing rebuttal press releases. She even decided when and how to send them out. Although the statements were released under NewJeans' names, but the ghostwriter was said to be Min Heejin.

⑦ The Essence of the Business

On November 14, 2024, NewJeans sent a legal notice. They demanded, "Bring Min Heejin back as CEO." At the same time, they requested an apology from HYBE. The deadline for an answer was two weeks.

Six days after the legal notice was sent (the 20th), Min Heejin submitted her resignation. She also posted a message saying, "One person's malicious actions should not damage the essence of the business. It was really wrong."

After Min Heejin resigned, NewJeans announced their contract termination. They protected Min Heejin by saying, "We did not have separate discussions with CEO Min Heejin. We believe she feels the same way as we do."

Although Min Heejin was an internal director at ADOR, report claims she planned NewJeans’ contract termination from behind the scenes. Then, she quit the company one week before the press conference. This is speculated to be a trick to avoid potential charges such as breach of trust.

⑧ The True Colors of the Plan

"It is recognized that she looked for ways to become independent…. However, after HYBE started its audit on April 22, 2024, the independence plans mentioned in the KakaoTalk chats seem to have stopped there." (The Court)

Min Heejin secured 25.5 billion KRW through her planning 'skills.' But how will the 'memory' of these plans be recorded?

Allegations include: attempting inappropriate relationships with a senior executive; looking for investors for escape strategies; designing contract termination while serving as an internal director; using the members to meet the 'grandfather'; testing independent activities through the Hong Kong stage; and trying to steal the group using the name NJZ.

Min Heejin consistently explored options. The only reason she couldn't complete the actions was because she was caught. It was not just about calculations, she allegedly stopped only after being exposed, but (while hiding) she continued to shake the company. As a result, Min Heejin is 'OOAK' and only NewJeans ended up 'Not OOAK' (NB: OOAK is pronunced like the word 'okay')

Continue reading "They even met the Japanese aristocrat grandfather" ... Min Heejin, the one behind NewJeans' downfall

"HYBE betrayed Min Heejin first with media play" Court gives harsh criticism

SOURCE: [단독] "하이브, 언플로 먼저 민희진 배신" 재판부 작심 비판

HYBE has 'completely lost' in the shareholder agreement lawsuit against Min Heejin. The court rejected most of HYBE's claims and emphasized that HYBE was the one who damaged the trust first. Notably, the court also pointed out HYBE's aggressive media play, which has been constantly criticized by people in the industry.

According to the first trial verdict obtained by this paper on the 20th, the Seoul Central District Court stated that HYBE was the first to bring the conflict to the public. In other words, HYBE started the media play first.

■ “HYBE started media play first... HYBE is the one who broke the trust”

The court stated, "The protest emails sent by Min Heejin’s side on April 3 and April 16, 2024 showed that the conflict remained internal. However, HYBE’s exclusive news report on April 22, 2024 made the conflict completely public." They added, "Min Heejin’s press conference that was held that same day appears to be based on her right to defend herself."

The court also pointed out that the timing of HYBE's audit and the media reports overlapped. The court said, "On April 22, 2024, HYBE launched an audit for ADOR. They demanded Min Heejin to resign from the CEO position and began the process to fire her." They noted, "On the same day, an exclusive article was reported with the title 'HYBE Launches Sudden Audit on ADOR, the Agency of NewJeans.'"

The court continued, "Although HYBE claimed Min Heejin would have used NewJeans to sell ADOR shares at a low price and take the loss, there appears to be no evidence that HYBE had identified this in advance and taken proper action."

Most importantly, the court explicitly stated that the decline in HYBE's stock price was caused by their own excessive media play.

The court said, "HYBE's stock price dropped significantly (7.8%) on April 22, 2024. This decline seems to be the result of the conflict becoming public through the exclusive article and the heated battle that followed." They added, "In their breach-of-duty complaint, HYBE claimed a loss of 800 billion KRW in market value, which seems to reflect this stock trend."

■ “Nothing more than private talk without action” ... Claims of ‘management takeover’ and ‘stealing NewJeans’ claims all rejected

The court did not accept most of HYBE's arguments.

Regarding HYBE's claim that ‘Min Heejin tried to steal management rights,’ the court said, "It is true that she looked for ways to weaken HYBE's control over ADOR and to rule the agency independently. However, these were plans she made on the condition that her contract negotiations failed and assuming she had the owner's consent after exercising er 'put option' rights in 2025. The court ruled, "Simply looking for ways to make ADOR independent can not be seen as a serious violation of the shareholders' agreement."

The court also dismissed HYBE's claim that 'Min Heejin tried to steal NewJeans.' The court stated, "A director’s actions are within their management freedom, so she cannot be held responsible for damages to the company."

In other words, the court judged that the 'betrayal' HYBE claimed: 1. was just a casual conversation that wasn't put into action, 2. was only a hypothetical scenario based on HYBE's consent, and 3. that HYBE broke the trust by hastily launching an audit and leaking it to the media.

■ The truth behind the “ILLIT is a NewJeans copycat” controversy

Additionally, the court also judged Min Heejin's suspicion that 'ILLIT copied NewJeans' as a fair opinion. The court said, "Her claim wasn't about specific items, but that ILLIT's overall impression is similar to NewJeans. This is an expression of opinion or judgment, not a statement of fact."

The court also accepted Kakao Talk messages between BTS' V and Min Heejin as evidence. At the time, V reportedly said, "(People always talk about plagiarism, it never stops) Sigh... I know right. I also saw it and thought 'this looks similar...'" Furthermore, the court acknowledged that HYBE's Chairman, Bang Sihyuk, produced ILLIT's debut album.

■ “NewJeans value is 2 trillion KRW, same level as BLACKPINK” ... Recognition of Min Heejin’s achievements

The court even compared NewJeans to BLACKPINK, stating, "The only comparable girl group is BLACKPINK," and estimated that, "The fair value of ADOR within two years could reach 2 trillion KRW."

The court also noted, "Min Heejin's side had estimated ADOR's market value at 0.8 to 1.5 trillion KRW in early 2024. They compared NewJeans to BLACKPINK, noting that YG reached a peak market value of 1.8 trillion KRW because of BLACKPINK, before declining amid contract renewal risks. The 2 trillion KRW estimate assumes that the alliance between NewJeans, Min Heejin, and HYBE continues."

The court also accepted Min Heejin’s criticisms of HYBE as evidence.

During a meeting with HYBE on January 25, 2024, Min Heejin said, "If you have a conscience, stop exploiting them. Ever since NewJeans debuted, everyone inside and outside the company is copying them. PLEDIS, BELIFT Lab, everyone is all copying NewJeans." She added, "Former CEO Park Jiwon told me they're desperate to make a 'male NewJeans' and that I should make a boy group. In this situation, why would I be crazy enough to make a boy group when I know everything will be taken from me like this?"

Regarding this, the court quoted a document explaining why she was cleared of charges on breach of trust, mentioning that her actions were caused by resentment of semi-illegal practices, such as pushing high first-week album sales and copying between subsidiaries.

Because of this ruling, HYBE must pay Min Heejin and others 25.6 billion KRW for stock payments. On the other hand, all of HYBE's claims were dismissed. HYBE submitted an appeal on the 19th and is continuing to fight the court's decision.

Continue reading "HYBE betrayed Min Heejin first with media play" Court gives harsh criticism

'She was called 'Kim'' NewJeans' Minji finally left South Korea? ... Fans speculate over a single blurry photo

SOURCE: "'김'이라 불렸다" 뉴진스 민지, 결국 한국 떠났나…흔들린 사진 한 장에 팬들 추측 난무

Rumors that NewJeans' Minji was spotted in London is becoming a hot topic online.

Recently, a post by a netizen who claimed to have seen Minji in London spread through online communities. The poster wrote, "I ran into two Korean women in the morning. One of them, wearing a black beanie and a leather puffer jacket, looks just like Minji. Her eyes and mouth especially looked similar, but I couldn't confirm it directly because they were far away."

The poster continued, "I heard the person next to her call her 'Kim.' If it really was Minji, I think I was very lucky."

The photo released in the post shows two women looking at their phones. Because the photo is blurry and taken from a distance, it's hard to tell if it's actually Minji. Nonetheless, fans are expressing their excitement as this is the first rumored update about Minji in a while.

Last month, there were also multiple online people on the internet who claimed to have spotted another NewJeans' member, Hanni, in Australia.

Meanwhile, following the legal dispute with their agency ADOR, the public is now focusing their attention on the members' future activities. As some members have expressed their intentions to return, the public is also looking forward to Minji's next move. 

TOP COMMENTS:

1. [+356][-129] Just let them flop so Min Heejin can pick them up and start over. The girls definitely look much better and prettier when Min Heejin handles the concepts and styling.

2. [+154][-62] Even if Min Heejin made a big mistake, they should have solved it internally or disciplined her for the sake of NewJeans instead of exposing it to the media. In the end, despite the company hiring dozens of high-level lawyers, the police found no evidence of breach of trust, and the court ruled in Min Heejin's favor... So, it's a shame. And isn't this whole 'uncle' controversy just a butterfly effect from when Min Heejin resigned?

3. [+354][-97] Well, the group is ruined now anyway... They each have to find their own way to survive.

4. [+146][-48] Who is the one that blocked NewJeans' future?

5. [+69][-40] Do they even have kalguksu restaurants in the UK too????

Continue reading 'She was called 'Kim'' NewJeans' Minji finally left South Korea? ... Fans speculate over a single blurry photo

Min Heejin posts 'five rabbits' after winning 25.5 billion KRW lawsuit ... Hinting at NewJeans?

SOURCE: 민희진, 255억 풋옵션 승소 후 '토끼 5마리'…뉴진스 암시하나

Former ADOR CEO Min Heejin left a meaningful message after winning her lawsuit against HYBE over the termination of shareholder agreement and the exercise of her 'put option.'

On the 12th, Min Heejin posted a video on her social media along with the caption that said, "It's all thanks to everyone's support."

The video shows a dinosaur character riding a bicycle down a road. Notably, the dinosaur was wearing clothes that are similar to what Min Heejin wore at a past press conference. At the end of the video, the phrase 'Only One Always Know' appeared along with the 'OOAK Records' logo, drawing attention.

Min Heejin also posted a screenshot from the video. It featured the dinosaur character, the OOAK Records logo, and five rabbits. She added a heart emoji pierced by an arrow, drawing further attention. Some speculate that the five rabbits may be hinting at the five members of NewJeans.

Previously, in November last year, Min Heejin notified HYBE her intention to use her 'put option' rights to sell her shares in ADOR. However, HYBE claimed that they had terminated their shareholder agreement in July, arguing that her 'put option' rights was no longer valid. Min Heejin countered, saying that the termination was unfair, leading to a legal battle between the two sides.

On this day, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed HYBE's claim that the shareholder agreement between them, Min Heejin, and two others was terminated. The court also ruled in favor of Min Heejin and two others in their lawsuit demanding payment for shares following the exercise of her 'put option' rights.

The court ordered HYBE to pay approximately 25.5 billion KRW to Min Heejin, and 1.7 billion KRW and 1.4 billion KRW to two former ADOR executives.

TOP COMMENTS:

1. [+784][-191] Doesn’t this mean she sacrificed those five rabbits to protect her own money?

2. [+723][-171] Does she mean she is satisfied now because she 'sold' the five rabbits and made 25.5 billion KRW?

3. [+388][-100] Is every rabbit supposed to be NewJeans now...?

4. [+59][-25] She is still acting like this, sigh.

5. [+48][-15] Do a thorough investigation on Bang Sihyuk instead. There hasn't been a single article about how much money he has been throwing around.

Continue reading Min Heejin posts 'five rabbits' after winning 25.5 billion KRW lawsuit ... Hinting at NewJeans?

NewJeans' choreography and MV teams also join in ... Is Min Heejin creating the 'male NewJeans'?

SOURCE: 뉴진스 안무·MV팀까지 합류…민희진 사단, '남자 뉴진스' 신호탄 되나

As OOAK Records recently unveiled the campaign for a new boy group launch, the public is speculating that the main creative staff who previously worked closely with NewJeans might be reuniting and joining the project.

On the 5th, MV director Lee Youngeum shared photos of the individuals involved in OOAK Records' video production on her personal social media. The list included Director Shin Dongle, who previously worked on NewJeans' 'Hype Boy' and 'Cookie,' while Lee Youngeum herself directed 'NewJeans' and 'Bubble Gum.'

Choreographers Black.Q and Kim Eunjoo also hinted their participation as they added 'OOAK Records' to their social media profiles. The two created the choreography of NewJeans' hit songs like 'Attention,' 'Hype Boy,' 'Ditto,' 'OMG,' and 'Super Shy.'

As these choreographers were the key figures behind the viral 'Hype Boy' challenge, attention is now focused on the performance style of the new boy group they will be working with.

As it seems like the production staff who worked together during the NewJeans era are reuniting, there are high expectations regarding the creative direction of the first boy group from OOAK Records.

Meanwhile, Min Heejin used to work at SM Entertainment before joining HYBE in 2019 as the Chief Brand Officer (CBO). Later, she led HYBE's subsidiary label, ADOR.

However, in April 2024, tensions surfaced when HYBE launched an internal audit after alleging that Min Heejin attempted to take control of the company. Since then, she was removed from her CEO position, stepped down as an internal director, and formally ending her relationship with HYBE.

Continue reading NewJeans' choreography and MV teams also join in ... Is Min Heejin creating the 'male NewJeans'?

The purpose of Min Heejin's emergency press conference = To expose NewJeans' members' families ... "Used for stock price manipulation"

SOURCE: 민희진, 긴급 기자회견 목적=뉴진스 가족 폭로였다 "주가 시세조종에 이용" [엑's 현장]

Former ADOR CEO Min Heejin's side claimed that a family member of NewJeans' member was involved in the background of the alleged 'NewJeans tampering' controversy.

Min Heejin's legal representative lawyer Kim Sunwoong from the law firm Jiam held an emergency press conference on the afternoon of the 28th in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Min Heejin did not attend the press conference. Regarding the reason, Lawyer Kim said, "There are some problems involving NewJeans member's family."

He explained, "These matters are difficult to talk about. She recently heard an information and was deeply shocked by it. Because of that, she was unable to appear."

Min Heejin's side stated, "She has no responsibility for the tampering at all. Instead, she was used by groups that are trying to disrupt the stock market." They added, "A family member of one of the NewJeans' members is involved. That is why she couldn't respond properly at the time. Due to a series of recent incidents, we decided to hold this press conference."

Lawyer Kim shared, "Even in the lawsuits between Min Heejin and HYBE, there have been attempt to use the members' families. This is why we had no choice but to state a basic statement about this." He continued, "We have discovered evidence that the 'NewJeans tampering' issue was used by people in the stock market as a tool to make money for themselves, exploiting both Min Heejin and NewJeans' members."

Meanwhile, the five members of NewJeans declared the termination of their exclusive contracts with ADOR back in November 2024 due to a loss of trust. However, in October last year, the court rejected their claims and ruled that their exclusive contracts with ADOR remain valid until July 31, 2029.

Afterward, Haerin and Hyein were the first members to return, followed by Hanni. Minji is currently in discussions with ADOR. On the other hand, ADOR notified Danielle of contract termination and removed her from the group. ADOR has filed a lawsuit seeking 43.1 billion KRW in damages against Danielle, one of her family members, and former CEO Min Heejin.

Continue reading The purpose of Min Heejin's emergency press conference = To expose NewJeans' members' families ... "Used for stock price manipulation"

Min Heejin fainted after listening to a recording of NewJeans member's uncle

SOURCE: "민희진, 뉴진스 멤버 큰아버지 녹취록 듣고 실신"

It has been reported that former ADOR CEO Min Heejin fainted in shock after realizing she had been taken advantage of. 

On January 28, Min Heejin's legal representative attorney Kim Sunwoong from the law firm Jiam held a press conference in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Investigative journalism 'The Gate' also attended the press conference and released an audio recording involving Mr. Lee, the uncle of a NewJeans' member.

The head of 'The Gate' criticized the situation, saying, "We live in an era where incidents like this are brushed off as a no big deal, allowing troublemakers to move around freely. While reporting on Min Heejin, I asked why she remained silent for over a year. Her answer was always the same: because she was afraid the members would get hurt. Even though she suffered from a neurasthenia and even came close to death, she stayed silent to protect the members and their families."

He continued, "We shared the recording file of the member's uncle with the lawyer.. We heard that Min Heejin fainted after hearing him say it was 'no big deal.' She fainted because the families she wanted to protect were laughing and dismissing the situation as 'no big deal.' We plan to continue tracking these market-disrupting forces in the capital market that are messing the K-pop industry."

According to the recording shared that day, Mr. Lee, the uncle of a NewJeans' member, responded to a question about why he stayed silent if Min Heejin didn't actually engage in tampering the group. He replied, "It was no big deal, so I just let it go."

Meanwhile, Min Heejin's side claimed, "The truth behind NewJeans 'tampering' allegations has nothing to do with former ADOR CEO Min Heejin. It was a large-scale scam played on the public by a family member of one NewJeans' member and a specific businessman. They allegedly did this to boost stock prices or manipulate the market."

Continue reading Min Heejin fainted after listening to a recording of NewJeans member's uncle

'330 edited' nude pictures of Aespa, NewJeans, and LE SSERAFIM ... The reason why the creator received a reduced sentence

SOURCE: 에스파·뉴진스·르세라핌에 '나체 합성' 330회…제작범, 감형받은 결정적 이유

A man who created and distributed sexually exploitative materials by editing the faces of members of famous idol groups such as Aespa, LE SSERAFIM, and NewJeans onto nude photos has been sentenced to prison with a suspended sentence.

According to legal sources on the 25th, the Uijeongbu District Court sentenced A, who was indicted without detention for violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (editing and fabrication of false videos), to 1 year and 6 months in prison, suspended for 3 years.

The court also ordered A to complete 40 hours of lectures about sexual violence treatment and a 5-year employment ban at institutions related to children, adolescents, and the disabled. 

A is accused of operating a Telegram chat room or about 4 months since December 2024. During this time, he allegedly created and posted over 300 fabricated videos by editing the faces of famous celebrities and his acquaintances onto nude photos. The content reportedly included members of popular idol groups such as Aespa, LE SSERAFIM, and NewJeans.

The court pointed out, "A committed serious wrongdoing by creating and posting fabricated videos capable of causing sexual humiliation to female celebrities and acquaintances for his own sexual satisfaction and vanity. The damage is significant given the possibility that these videos could be distributed indiscriminately."

The court also explained its reasoning behind the sentencing, saying, "The sentence was determined after considering all relevant circumstances. He reached a settlement with some of the victims. He is also a a first-time offender and he did not obtain financial gain from this."

Continue reading '330 edited' nude pictures of Aespa, NewJeans, and LE SSERAFIM ... The reason why the creator received a reduced sentence

Former CEO Min Heejin's apartment in Yongsan is also seized ... Creditor is ADOR

SOURCE: [단독] 민희진 전 대표, 용산구 아파트도 가압류…채권자는 어도어

According to an investigation by Ilyo News, a provisional seizure of 500 million KRW has been placed on an apartment in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, owned by former ADOR CEO Min Heejin. This property is separate from the multi-unit villa in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, which was previously seized in November 11, 2024.

On December of 23 last year, the 21st Civil Division of the Seul Western District Court approved ADOR's application for a provisional seizure of Min Heejin's property worth approximately 500 million KRW. A provisional seizure is a legal measure taken by a creditor to secure assets before a final court ruling. Assets placed under provisional seizure can't be sold or used until the main lawsuit is concluded.

This seizure is related to an incident that occurred while Min Heejin was still serving as CEO of ADOR, involving A, the head of ADOR's style directing team in charge of NewJeans. A allegedly received fees directly from external advertisers. The National Tax Service ruled that the 700 million KRW in fees should've been recognized as ADOR's revenue and imposed additional taxes on ADOR. ADOR claimed that Min Heejin is liable for damages caused to the company, and the court accepted this claim.

Regarding this matter, Ilyo News has attempted to reach Min Heejin on the 13th, but she couldn't be reached.

The issue of the penalty taxes was previously mentioned during a hearing held on November 27 last year at the Seoul Central District Court in the lawsuit between HYBE and Min Heejin regarding the termination of shareholders' agreement.

This is not the first time that Min Heejin's property has been seized. On November 11, 2024, a 100 million KRW provisional seizure was placed on her property in Mapo-gu by a former ADOR employee identified as B.

The property in Yongsan-gu that was recently seized was purchased by Min Heejin on September 16, 2019 for 1.645 billion KRW. At the time, the maximum debt amount on the mortgage was 540 million KRW. It has been confirmed that Min Heejin fully repaid the loan a year later on November 26, 2020.

Meanwhile, NewJeans' members previously demanded the reinstatement of Min Heejin, who had been dismissed following conflicts with HYBE. When their demands were not met, they claimed their exclusive contracts were terminated in November 2024 due to ADOR's breach of contract. ADOR insisted that the contracts were still valid and filed a lawsuit in December 2024 to confirm the contract's validity, along with an injunction requesting from the members to be banned from engaging in independent activities until a ruling on the main case.

The court accepted ADOR's request for injunction and also ruled in ADOR's favor on the confirmation of the validity of the contracts. Following this, Minji, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein expressed their intention to return and rejoined ADOR. However, Danielle was removed from the group.

On December 29 last year, ADOR filed a lawsuit seeking approximately 43.1 billion KRW in damages against Danielle and Min Heejin. ADOR stated that they intend to hold both parties legally responsible for causing the conflict, NewJeans' departure, and delaying the return of the members.

1. [+648][-49] Exactly... They could've made tens of billions and lived comfortably producing music. Their greed for money ruined everything.

2. [+566][-57] If only she wasn't that greedy... In the end, she's the one who cut off NewJeans' wings right when the girls were about to fly. Everything is a mess now. There's such a thing as timing and luck, and she's missing all of it.

3. [+520][-45] I guess the shaman didn't tell her that things would turn out like this, huh?

4. [+47][-0] She treated NewJeans as if the girls were her own property... Her own greed is the one that caused all this disaster...

Continue reading Former CEO Min Heejin's apartment in Yongsan is also seized ... Creditor is ADOR

Danielle to hold first activity today since her 'removal from NewJeans' ... 'SNS Live Broadcast'

SOURCE: 다니엘, 오늘(12일) '뉴진스 퇴출' 후 첫 활동…"SNS 라이브 진행" [공식]

On the 12th, Danielle's legal representative, Hwawoo Law Group, announced that she will be holding a 'Live Message' session at 7 PM today to meet fans directly through her personal social media channels.

This 'Live Message' is meant to be a space for Danielle to personally share updates and her sincere feelings to fans who have stayed by her side for a long time. It will be broadcast live through her personal Youtube channel and Instagram.

Through this session, Danielle plans to express deep gratitude to both domestic and international fans who have continuously shown her support and love, as well to share updates on her current situation, and check in on how her fans are doing.

Danielle's representatives stated, "We would like to clarify that this live broadcast is purely for communication with fans and is not related to the ongoing lawsuit."

Meanwhile, ADOR announced the termination of Danielle's exclusive contract last month. ADOR stated, "In Danielle's case, we have determined that it would be difficult for her to continue as a member of NewJeans and an artist under ADOR. Therefore, we notified her today of the termination of her exclusive contract. Furthermore, we plan to hold one member of Danielle's family and former CEO Min Heejin legally responsible for causing this dispute and also for NewJeans' departure and delayed return."

Regarding the lawsuit, ADOR stated, "We plan to file a lawsuit for penalty for breach of contract and damages against Danielle today. While it is difficult to provide specific details as the case is still in progress, we notified her of the termination because there were actions that violated the exclusive contract, such as signing contracts that conflict with this exclusive agreement, engaging in independent entertainment activities, and damaging the reputation and credibility of the company and NewJeans. We have demanded these to be corrected, but no correction was made within the given period. Therefore, we notified her of the termination."

1. [+231][-139] From the start, in this fight between Min Heejin and HYBE, it's only the young girls who get hurt. What's all this talk about settlements? There's revenue, so of course they should be paid. This is not dereliction of duty. Even in normal office life, people quit when there's conflict. It's just a matter of perspective. This is not the Joseon Dynasty where you can treat people however you want just because the state protects you from invasions. No matter how successful K-pop is, human rights have to come with it.

2. [+180][-108] It's so sad how only the young girls suffer from this fight between adults... What did they do wrong? They've probably had no social experience since they've lived as trainees since they were young.

3. [+176][-106] If she really did something wrong, just make her return what she was paid for the work she did. But 40 billion KRW? If that request is upheld, it would ruin a person's life. This is just too much. K-pop needs to mature.

4. [+139][-61] Honestly, what a waste of talent... I thought it was nice that even older listeners could easily get into their songs among other girl groups.

Continue reading Danielle to hold first activity today since her 'removal from NewJeans' ... 'SNS Live Broadcast'

How the penalty was calculated at 30 billion KRW out of the 43.1 billion KRW lawsuit against Danielle?

ADOR has filed a 43.1 billion KRW lawsuit against Danielle, notifying her of the termination of her exclusive contract, and stated that she can no longer work as a NewJeans' member. Right now, attention is focused on how the 'penalty,' a fine for breach of contract, was calculated at 30 billion KRW.

According to the entertainment industry on the 8th, ADOR filed a lawsuit totaling 43.1 billion KRW against Danielle, her mother, and former ADOR CEO Min Heejin last month. The penalty amounts to 30 billion KRW, alongside a claim for 3.1 billion KRW in damages for non-fulfillment of the contract. ADOR is also claiming 10 billion KRW in damages against Danielle's mother and former CEO Min Heejin, holding them responsible for NewJeans' departure and the delay in their return.

The total amount of 43.1 billion KRW is the sum of 13.1 billion KRW in compensation for actual damages caused by the breach of contract and 30 billion KRW in penalty clause for the breach of contract.

Article 15, Clause 2 (Termination or Cancelation of Contract) of ADOR-NewJeans exclusive contract, which was previously disclosed in a court ruling, states, "Under the circumstances described above, even though the plaintiff (ADOR) is faithfully performing its important duties according to the contract, if the defendants (NewJeans' members) unilaterally terminate this exclusive contract during the contract period or violate important contract terms with the intent to unilaterally terminate it, the defendants shall pay the plaintiff the amount specified in Clause 1 of this Article as a penalty, separate from the damages in Paragraph 1 of this Article."

The criteria for calculating the penalty clause are also included in the exclusive contract. It is defined as: "Regardless the period of entertainment activities, the amount shall be calculated by taking the monthly average revenue during the period in which actual sales occurred within the two years before the contract ends, and multiplying it by the number of remaining months in the contract term."

Previously, all five members of NewJeans (Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein) notified ADOR of their contract termination on November 29 last year. Based on that date, ADOR's annual revenue for the prior 2 years was approximately 110.3 billion KRW in 2023 and 111.2 billion KRW in 2024.

Since NewJeans is the only artist under ADOR, ADOR's revenue can be viewed as NewJeans' revenue. Divided by the five members, the annual revenue per member is roughly 22 billion KRW. Divided by 12 months, Danielle's monthly revenue is estimated to be around 1.8 billion KRW.

NewJeans, who debuted in July 2022, had an exclusive contract with ADOR until July 2029. Multiplying Danielle's average monthly revenue of 1.8 billion KRW by the remaining 56 months of the contract results in approximately 100.8 billion KRW. ADOR set the penalty at 30 billion KRW, which is less than 1/3 of that amount.

A penalty clause is different from liquidated damages. While liquidated damages strongly focus on compensating the other party's losses, a penalty clause is similar to a 'fine,' where it is agreed in advance that the debtor will pay a certain amount of money or provide other benefits to the creditor if they fail to fulfil their obligations.

The Supreme Court has ruled that a penalty clause is not automatically invalid simply because the amount is large. The penalty cannot be reduced even if the actual damages are smaller.

However, if the amount is significantly far too high compared to the actual damage, the court may decide that all or part of it is invalid under Article 103 of the Civil Act (Violation of Public Order and Morals). Therefore, it appears that ADOR set the penalty at 30 billion KRW to avoid the risk of the clause being ruled invalid, which would lower the penalty amount.

Meanwhile, the lawsuit filed by ADOR against Danielle has been assigned to Civil Division 31 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Nam Insoo), which is also currently handling the lawsuit over the termination of the shareholder agreement between HYBE and former CEO Min Heejin, as well as the claim for the stock purchase price after the put option was exercised.

source

1. [+101][-15] Seriously, Mincheonji has completely ruined the girls... She used these girls, who should be singing and performing at their peak, as hostages. And in the end, their image has hit rock bottom.

2. [+68][-8] Whoa... They earn that much?? That's incredible...

Continue reading How the penalty was calculated at 30 billion KRW out of the 43.1 billion KRW lawsuit against Danielle?

I think this whole NewJeans situation is a small-scale example that shows the structural problems in Korean society

수십년이 지나 한국사회가 오늘 일을 돌아본다면
뉴진스에게 가해졌던 이 모든 부당함이
얼마나 낡은가치관에 기댄것들이었는지
모두가 부끄러울만큼 분명히 알게될거라 생각한다

얼마나 많은 이들이 뉴진스를 두고 어린 여자애들 '참교육'하는 감성으로 혼내주는 구도를 즐기는지
솔직히 너무 역겹다

— 타띠 (@bytatti) October 30, 2025

I think this whole NewJeans situation is a small-scale example that shows the structural problems in Korean society

Forcing the girls to return to a company where trust is completely broken and telling them to just finish their contract period is too violent and suffocating.

I believe NewJeans has the right to leave HYBE and be free.

Decades from now, when Korean society looks back on this day, people will clearly realize how all this unfairness against NewJeans was based on outdated values, and they will deeply feel ashamed.

It's disgusting how so many people seem to enjoy 'disciplining' these young girls under the guise of 'teaching them a lesson.' 

사내 괴롭힘을 근거로 계약소속하면서 같이 일하기 원하는 사람은 일반인 여성을 상대로 변호사 7명 고용해서 사내괴롭힘건 소송하는 민희진ㅋㅋㅋ 이것도 약간 한국 사회의 구조적 모순을 보여주는것 같음! https://t.co/2uUl5gVFL4

— 케숙이 (@bullchu_) October 30, 2025

Min Heejin, who reportedly hires 7 lawyers to sue an ordinary female employee over a workplace harassment issue, represents yet another structural problems in Korean society. 

theqoo

-Is a contract a joke? What even is the cause of the broken trust?

-Emotions don't solve anything.

-...? Do you think NewJeans would be treated any differently in another country? Legally, they'd probably face even worse consequences. They would probably have to pay more compensation.

-That is exactly what you call a contract...

-Do you think this only happened because they're young girls?? Things escalated this far and you think this only happened because they're young...??

-What do you think is a contract then? If they don't want to return to that company, they should pay penalty fees then.

-Why sign a contract in the first place then?? Just make a pinky promise instead.

-How shameless... Why do you think contracts even exist in the first place?? They brought this upon themselves.

-What do you think the law is?? You can't break the law just by throwing a tantrum.

-That person must be a minor too.

-The result would've been exactly the same even if they're a boy groupㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Why do contracts exist? It exists to be followed.

-Where did things go wrong? Do they not understand how contracts work?

-Hang in there, NewJeans, I support you.

-Do they think Korea’s law and contracts are a joke?

-What are they even saying… do they not have a brain?

Continue reading I think this whole NewJeans situation is a small-scale example that shows the structural problems in Korean society

"Used NewJeans' parents to lead public opinion" ... Court strongly criticizes Min Heejin

NewJeans has lost the first trial in their exclusive contract dispute against their agency ADOR.

On the 30th, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that the contract remains valid in ADOR's 'lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract' against NewJeans members.

Furthermore, the court stated that former CEO Min Heejin appeared to have been preparing for a public opinion war and a lawsuit with the goal of becoming independent from HYBE. This cannot be seen as an action to protect NewJeans.

In particular, the court strongly criticized former CEO Min Heejin, saying "She prepared for a public opinion war using NewJeans' parents as her shields."

The court pointed out, "Based on Min Heejin's KakaoTalk messages, she planned to spread the idea that 'HYBE mistreated NewJeans' by using NewJeans' parents, while she stayed behind and prepared for lawsuits. The court added, "This cannot be seen as an effort to protect NewJeans from ADOR's contract breach."

After the ruling today, NewJeans' legal team released a statement saying that they respect the court's decision, but it's impossible for the members to return to ADOR and continue normal activities since their trust has already completely broken down.

Previously, the court had dismissed all of NewJeans' objections and appeals. This means that the members could not work without ADOR's approval until the final judgment.

Also, in May, the court accepted ADOR's request for indirect compulsory enforcement, ruling that if NewJeans engages in independent activities without prior approval, each member would have to pay 1 billion KRW for every violation.

YTN

[+367][-28] They ended up looking like fools in the middle of all this.

[+350][-39] I expected the court result after reading all the past articles... The pressure from the articles pouring out every day is so intense that if they were regular people, it wouldn't be strange if they committed suicide. The reason I hope they return to ADOR is not about whether they will do well, but so they don’t get hurt anymore.

[+328][-96] Isn’t it strange how in this whole fight between Bang Sihyuk and Min Heejin, the adults completely got away without consequence?

[+72][-10] NewJeans lost the lawsuit. On the other hand, somewhere out there Min Heejin is excited about starting her new company. She made 5 billion KRW and that's it.

[+67][-5] In the end, they really did become the second Fifty Fifty.

[+59][-10] This is how scary gaslighting can be. The girls are still not free from it.

[+58]-21] ㅋㅋ Are you guys buzzers??? Do you think contracts are a joke?? The court ruled against them, it means they should stick to the contract. Do you think contracts are just some pinky promise??? Just stick to the contract.

Continue reading "Used NewJeans' parents to lead public opinion" ... Court strongly criticizes Min Heejin

The most shocking part of NewJeans' lawsuit in my opinion

 

Up until now, people believed that all five NewJeans members' parents fully supported their daughters' position. However, it has now been revealed for the first time that there were differences of opinion among some of the parents and this internal conflict has escalated into a legal fight.

The conflict within Member A's family started when one parent, B, refused to sign the documents necessary for filing the 'exclusive contract injunction lawsuit' against ADOR last year. As A's legal guardians, both B and C must agree for A to participate in the lawsuit. Even if one parent objects, A can't legally join any lawsuit against ADOR.

B refused to sign A's lawsuit paperwork, which means B was against their daughter going against ADOR. On the other hand, C supported A's decision and agreed with NewJeans' stance to terminate the exclusive contract and leave ADOR. As a result, C filed a parental rights exclusion lawsuit against B to remove B's parental rights for this specific legal matter.

This situation is significant because it shows that the dispute over ADOR has caused a split within the members' own families, going beyond just one member's private life. It is the first time it was confirmed that there are disagreements among the NewJeans parents, and people are especially curious why B was so firmly against the lawsuit.

According to statements made by NewJeans’ legal team and the court during the main trial on the 4th, the family court in charge of the parental rights case sided with C, who supported the lawsuit. This ruling limited B’s authority, who opposed A’s participation in the case. It remains unclear whether B has since appealed the decision.

http://m.tvdaily.co.kr/article.php?aid=17437334651746459010#_PA

To summarize the situation:

-One parent of an underage member opposed the lawsuit.

-A minor needs permission from both parents to sue. Since one of her parents objected, the lawsuit was initially blocked from moving forward.

-The parent who supported the lawsuit filed a separate lawsuit against their spouse to remove their parental authority for this issue.

-The court agreed that the child's opinion was important and ruled in favor of the parent who supported the lawsuit.

This isn't necessarily hopeful news, though...

It shows that despite one parent’s strong opposition, to the point of being sued by their own spouse, the member herself remains determined to see the lawsuit through the end.

theqoo

-The makjang of the 21st century.

-It looks like only one person out of ten parents was against this lawsuit...

-Min Heejin is truly wicked for dragging this out even after seeing how messy it got.

-That one parent fought a lonely battle...

-Seems like only one of the parents is sane...

-Is it really worth going that far, honestly?

-Whoa... A family fell apart because of this.

-Min Heejin, what are you going to do with NewJeans’ lives now?…

-Sigh... Hyein-ah, you should've just listened to your dad.

-It's not my place to comment on someone else's family matters, but it's truly unfortunate....

-Did they really have to go this far?

-The father objected, but the mother disagreed with him. That's why they had the parental rights lawsuit.

-Everyone just lost their mind over money, that’s all.

-Money comes before familyㅋ

-This is shocking.

Continue reading The most shocking part of NewJeans' lawsuit in my opinion

"10 reasons for termination all dismissed" ... NewJeans loses contract battle against ADOR.

NewJeans has failed in its attempt to leave ADOR.

On the 30th, the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Agreement Division 41 delivered its ruling in the case over the validity of NewJeans’ exclusive contract with ADOR. The result was a complete victory for ADOR. NewJeans must also cover all legal costs.

The court stated, "It is difficult to conclude that ADOR has violated any serious obligations of the contract and or that the trust relationship has been broken down."

Normally, civil court only announces the decision, but in this case the judge read a 40-minute detailed statement point by point.

① Dismissal of Min Heejin = Management vacuum?

The court first addressed NewJeans’ argument, saying, "It is difficult to conclude that a management vacuum ocurred simply because ADOR dismissed CEO Min Heejin." The court ruled that NewJeans' high trust in Min Heejin is not enough to guarantee her position as CEO in the exclusive contract.

The court also pointed out that Min Heejin could still act as an in-house director and producer even after being dismissed as CEO, saying "The contract does not specifically state that Min Heejin must be the CEO to manage the group"

Furthermore, the court revealed, "ADOR offered Min Heejin a contract to re-delegate her duties as the producer, but she refused. ADOR later attempted to re-appoint her as an in-house director, but she resigned herself. Therefore, it's hard to say that ADOR unilaterally broke the trust relationship."

② HYBE’s ability to continue management duties

NewJeans claimed, "ADOR failed to fulfill its management duties after Min Heejin's dismissal." The court disagreed, saying, "The delay in hiring a new producer for several months was because ADOR was waiting for Min Heejin's cooperation. During that time, ADOR still continued to handle management tasks like album production, concert preparations, world tour planing, and ad shootings."

③ Min Heejin’s audit and dismissal procedures were legitimate

Another issue was whether Min Heejin's dismissal was justified. The court ruled, "Her dismissal can not be seen as a result of an unfair audit."

The judge directly cited KakaoTalk messages between Min Heejin and former ADOR VP, Lee Sangwoo.

In February 2024, the VP said, "Let's make things difficult for HYBE and gain our freedom,” to which Min Heejin replied, “That would be great.”

In a conversation the next month, Min Heejin said, "Plan change, we're moving up the timeline. We won't talk about the media here. We will fight a public opinion war and then sue. We'll wait for a response, then release the story."

They also quoted a KakaoTalk message that showed Min Heejin had prepared a complaint for the Fair Trade Commission on 20 April 2024. Min Heejin said, "The mothers need to file the complain with FTC and announce it publicly. The important thing here is not about HYBE's sales, it's about making this known to the public."

The court continued, "She also contacted the investors and trying to gain support from the public by using the parents of the members. These actions are enough reason for ADOR to launch an audit. There is enough evidence to suggest that Min Heejin intended to take NewJeans and ADOR independent. ADOR's decision to launch an audit was simply a response to this plan."

④ Dispatch trainee videos = trust breakdown?

The court also rejected claims that the video of NewJeans members' Source Music trainee days, which was released by Dispatch, was not enough as a reason to say that trust was broken.

The court confirmed, "Two videos were actually deleted and others had been blurred out. HYBE even selected an additional company to handle this, sent an email to Source Music to check how it got leaked, and sent an official document to Dispatch. It is difficult to say that they did not take all the necessary measures."

⑤ HYBE defamed NewJeans’ achievements?

Regarding the claim that a HYBE PR staff member tried to downplay NewJeans' achievement to a reporter, the court said, "It is difficult to say that this is a defamation. They were correcting facts that were important for HYBE and its stock price."

At that time, a reporter had incorrectly reported that NewJeans' debut album in Japan sold 1 million copies, which was false. HYBE said, "We requested a correction because it could confuse the investors."

⑥ ILLIT plagiarized NewJeans?

The claim that ILLIT plagiarized NewJeans was also not accepted. The court stated, "There are similarities between NewJeans and ILLIT, but it is difficult to see them as being copied."

⑦ Hanni's 'ignore her' incident

The court pointed out that the first person to use the phrase 'ignore her' was Min Heejin.

The court found that Min Heejin emphasized the word 'ignore' when she messaged Hanni, "Did all the ILLIT members ignore you?"

The court also noted that Hanni did not accurately describe the situation at the time, saying "The CCTV footage confirms that the ILLIT members bowed to greet Hanni. Based only on the submitted evidence, it is difficult to accept that Hanni heard remarks that violated her personal rights."

⑧ Dolphiner Films

The court also found it fair that HYBE asked the production team, Dolphiner Films, to delete the NewJeans 'ETA Director's Cut' video.

The court explained, "If you look at the contract, content cant be posted without HYBE's permission. Despite that, Dolphiner Films still posted it. The action that HYBE took against Dolphiner Films is an exercise of a right based on the contract. Therefore, it is hard to view this as a violation of any major exclusive contract obligations."

⑨ Album pushing

The court stated that this was just a tool Min Heejin used to create conflict.

The court said, "Based on the submitted evidence, it is difficult to conclude that 'album pushing,' which would harm NewJeans, was actually carried out. Min Heejin merely used this as a way to attack HYBE."

⑩ 'Ditch 'New', start fresh'

NewJeans was focused only on the phrase 'Ditch 'New', start fresh' in a report at the time. However, the court looked at the report as a whole and decided that it did not contain anything negative about NewJeans.

The court also questioned Min Heejin's actions, pointing out, "Min He-jin, who was the CEO at the time, received the report but did not raise any objections."

The court also mentioned that HYBE invested 21 billion KRW in NewJeans, saying, "it is hard to believe that HYBE would give up on NewJeans and focus on another idol group."

The court ruled, "It is difficult to see that ADOR seriously violated the exclusive contract. We also cannot accept NewJeans' claim that the relationship of trust has been broken. Therefore, the claim to terminate the exclusive contract has no grounds."

As a result, the exclusive contract between NewJeans and ADOR remains valid. This ruling gives ADOR legal authority to stop NewJeans from pursuing independent activities.

NewJeans cannot carry out independent activities without ADOR's permission, just as was decided in the preliminary court order before the main lawsuit was finished.

Immediately after the verdict, NewJeans announced their intent to appeal. Their legal representative, Sejong, stated, “While we respect the court’s decision, it is impossible to return to ADOR given the complete breakdown of trust. We plan to appeal immediately.”

Dispatch

Continue reading "10 reasons for termination all dismissed" ... NewJeans loses contract battle against ADOR.