On the afternoon of September 11, the K-pop group NewJeans unexpectedly launched their YouTube channel “nwjns” and hosted a livestream without authorization from their management company, HYBE. During this livestream, the members of NewJeans addressed their position for the first time regarding the ongoing controversy involving HYBE and former CEO Min Hee Jin.
In a surprising turn of events, Min Hee Jin was removed from her role as CEO of ADOR by the group at the end of August this year, causing considerable shock within NewJeans. The members expressed their confusion and anxiety about the current circumstances. The atmosphere of the livestream was somber, with the girls dressed in black and displaying serious, worried expressions. Despite their contractual obligations to HYBE, the members of NewJeans emphasized that Min Hee Jin was instrumental in shaping the group’s identity and that her role could not be easily filled.
Throughout the livestream, NewJeans conveyed feelings of isolation within the new structure of ADOR, noting a distinct lack of trust in their superiors. Member Hanni expressed her distress over being disregarded by staff from HYBE. She revealed that a manager had instructed other artists to ignore her during an encounter, leaving her feeling deeply hurt.
Moreover, the members of NewJeans openly declared their mistrust towards HYBE and expressed their unwavering support for Min Hee Jin, regardless of the potential fallout.
At the conclusion of the livestream, NewJeans made a direct appeal to Bang Si Hyuk, urging HYBE to restore ADOR to its original management structure under Min Hee Jin by September 25. Following the livestream, the YouTube channel “nwjns” was subsequently deleted.
The unprecedented declaration by NewJeans during the livestream has raised significant concerns within the K-pop fan community regarding the group’s future. This open confrontation with their agency puts NewJeans in a precarious position, as HYBE has the authority to indefinitely suspend the group’s activities. Should they choose to leave, the members could face substantial compensation demands, previously estimated by experts to reach up to 200 billion won for all five members.
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