The Inside Story of Min Hee-jin’s Acquisition of NewJeans

Seven trainees from Source Music, namely Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, Hyein, and two other unnamed individuals, vied for a position in the debut roster by performing the song “Attention” .

Source Music has been making preparations for a new girl group, known as Team N, since 2018, with the aim of debuting in the third quarter of 2021.

In 2019, Min Hee-jin became a creator for the project, responsible for visuals and concept. Source Music continued to manage singing and dance training.

The initial outcome of this endeavor was the unveiling of the 2021 evaluation video, in which Team N displayed potential with their performance of “Attention”.

Nevertheless, the debut was unexpectedly delayed, causing speculation about whether it was a result of Source Music’s or Min Hee-jin’s negligence.

◆ An Inconsistency

Bang Si-hyuk and So Sung-jin aimed to revolutionize the girl group industry by incorporating Min Hee-jin.

Despite her initial hesitation to participate in the project due to the perceived lack of control, she ultimately agreed to take on the role due to her position as HYBE’s CBO, responsible for managing branding for both HYBE and its affiliated labels.

Despite efforts to find a successful collaboration, the project hit roadblocks due to conflicting ideas between Min Hee-jin, who desired greater control over branding, music, and performance, and So Sung-jin of Source Music, who ultimately had the final say. Despite attempts to adjust her role, the project encountered delays, causing doubts about Min Hee-jin’s true motives.

Are there hidden motives behind this?

Team N had prepared for their debut with “Attention”, but Min Hee-jin’s failure to provide necessary branding materials caused a delay. These materials were only in her mind, leading to speculation about her true intentions, such as managing the group under her own label.

Despite Source Music’s repeated attempts to schedule meetings and confirm plans throughout 2021, Min Hee-jin consistently delayed them. This time frame coincided with her frequent consultations with a shaman, suggesting that she had other priorities.

◆ Goals Out of Sync

Despite Source Music’s careful scouting and training of the members of Team N, with a goal of debuting them in the third quarter of 2021, the uncertainty caused by delays from Min Hee-jin’s side forced the company to reassess their plans. As a result, they had to prioritize the debut of Team S (later known as LE SSERAFIM) by mid-2021.

◆ In conclusion, the main point is still the same.

Despite the efforts and plans of Source Music, the debut timeline of Team N was significantly impacted by Min Hee-jin’s approach and delays. The project faced difficulties due to conflicting goals and internal conflicts, ultimately leading to Team N being transferred to Min Hee-jin’s label ADOR. As a result, Team S debuted first in May 2022.

Despite Source Music’s claims that delays and unmet deadlines during the formation of NewJeans were caused by Min Hee-jin’s actions, her narrative presents her as a crucial figure in the group’s establishment. This disagreement ultimately led to a legal battle over the management and debut procedures of the group.