On the afternoon of the 27th, Min Hee Jin, former CEO of ADOR, gave a lecture titled “Freestyle of a Producer Breaking the K-Pop Formula” at the ‘2024 Hyundai Card Da Vinci Motel’ event in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
During the lecture, Min confidently stated, “I will win because I’m innocent. You can’t create a crime that doesn’t exist. I never said I would leave the company (ADOR). Our (NewJeans) members who share my vision must also feel wronged. This is a once-in-a-lifetime case, and I will document everything and reveal the truth through a documentary. So far, I’ve spent 2.3 billion KRW (approximately $1.7 million) on legal fees. Contrary to popular belief, I’m not as wealthy as people think. Because of the legal costs, I’m even planning to sell my house. Let me curse just once—damn it, I have to win.”
Min Hee Jin was removed from her position as CEO last month following a board meeting at ADOR. She immediately protested, and on the 11th, NewJeans held an urgent live broadcast demanding her reinstatement by the 25th, calling it “the only way to avoid a confrontation with HYBE.” However, ADOR responded on the 25th, offering Min the position of internal director and guaranteeing her full producing rights for NewJeans for the remaining five years of their contract, but refused to reinstate her as CEO. In response, Min called ADOR’s proposal “wordplay” and reiterated her demand for reinstatement in media interviews.
Min emphasized her achievements over the past year, arguing that the current conflict arose because HYBE disliked her “innovative” approach to organizational management. She also stated, “Telling me to only focus on producing shows a lack of understanding of my role,” further reinforcing her desire to return to the CEO position.
Before and after the lecture, NewJeans publicly showed their support for Min. Hanni sent a fan art piece with the message, “Good luck today, CEO! Of course, you’ll crush it,” accompanied by the words “NewJeans never dies.”
Haerin added, “Wow, CEO! It was so much fun! I was watching with my earphones on, completely immersed, and it made me understand you better. It also helped me upgrade some of my own thoughts. I felt so full while watching, and I think you’re truly going to change something. You’ve already changed so much. Anyway, it was a meaningful time for me, and I loved it.”