I would like to say hello to all ADOR staff. The Company is well aware that ADOR employees have faithfully performed their duties in their respective positions. So I think you guys are more worried about this problem than anyone else. We hope you don’t feel worried and try your best in your current role for the return and development of NewJeans.
And as always, HYBE places the highest priority on protecting artists and staff, and we ask everyone involved to make special efforts to ensure that artists are not affected by this incident. The company will discuss necessary institutional and personnel measures so that you can work in a stable spirit and then give you feedback.”
HYBE will not give up on a potential group like NewJeans.
HYBE’s stance of not giving up on NewJeans can be clearly seen. Looking objectively, NewJeans is currently the “fighting cock” of the group, the number 1 position of the 4th generation female group is unquestionable. The group is on the rise with extremely promising potential in two major music markets, the US and Japan.
Among groups within the same corporation, NewJeans is receiving the most abundant support and resources. If there is no controversy and Min Hee Jin’s dissatisfaction, HYBE is ready to continue investing in NewJeans.
The announcement of NewJeans’ comeback somewhat reassured fans. But in the long run, Min Hee Jin and HYBE’s dispute is not easy to resolve. NewJeans is the most affected factor in this power struggle.
What is the future for NewJeans and Min Hee Jin?
In the current situation, the dispute is only taking place between Min Hee Jin and HYBE. Therefore, NewJeans’ activities are still being guaranteed. As a potential music group, the “golden egg” of the new generation, HYBE will not let NewJeans go easily. Music industry experts predict three possibilities that could happen to NewJeans.
Min Hee Jin will be dismissed from the position of ADOR CEO.
First, ideally, if Min Hee Jin and HYBE successfully reconcile for the sake of the artists, everything will return to its original trajectory. However, this is very unlikely because Min Hee Jin’s ego is very high, the female CEO does not accept that she is under a corporation and her creations are openly referenced.
This is confirmed by music critic Kim Do Heon as follows: “CEO Min has a very strong ego. A business cooperation relationship based on the concept of a parent company, subsidiary or branch of a large corporation will not be applicable… CEO Min tends to emphasize his own achievements, but internal awareness claiming that all the credit belongs to CEO Min and wanting to get away from control may be the cause of the incident.”
Min Hee Jin left ADOR, NewJeans is still an artist under their management, HYBE appointed new people to manage the company and the group’s future activities.
Therefore, both HYBE and Min Hee Jin are ready for a fierce legal battle, in which the object of contention is NewJeans. In case Min Hee Jin wins the lawsuit and does not have to compensate or bear legal responsibility for HYBE’s accusations, it will still be very difficult for NewJeans to follow their “mother”.
Min Hee Jin had to leave ADOR, HYBE announced that it would soon press a shareholder meeting to dismiss the female CEO. The “mother” is no longer affiliated with the group, but NewJeans is still an artist under their management. HYBE appoints new person to manage ADOR and future operations of NewJeans.
Kim Do Heon also predicted: “Currently, NewJeans is one of the most popular music groups in the world, so even if CEO Min does not take on the role of producer, it will not cause any major obstacles. The popularity of SM artists has not decreased just because producer Lee Soo Man left.”
“NewJeans little sister” – ILLIT just achieved the Perfect All-Kill record and went straight to the Billboard Hot 100 after only 25 days of debut.
Choosing to stay in the group, NewJeans continues to operate but is at risk of “losing its color” because the group’s products are inherently associated with Min Hee Jin. Not to mention, ILLIT has just debuted and has achieved the same achievements as NewJeans did, the strategy and concept are also easy to reach young fans. Many people fear that HYBE will no longer favor NewJeans like before.
If they follow Min Hee Jin wholeheartedly, NewJeans will have to sue to separate from HYBE. Thus, the scenario of FIFTY FIFTY with ATTRAKT repeats. And this is also the most unexpected ending. Not to mention the risk of being “blocked” by a large corporation, the fine NewJeans must pay to terminate the management contract is also a nightmare.
If they choose to follow Min Hee Jin, NewJeans will have to sue HYBE and face a huge contract compensation amount.
According to Business Post, after 2 months since launch, NewJeans has completed paying all investments and receiving salaries. Taking into account the remaining contract term of 60 months, the fine for violations will likely exceed hundreds of billions of won.
For reference, with an exclusive contract according to Fair Trade Commission standards, the penalty is calculated as the average monthly revenue over the previous 2 years up to the date of contract termination, multiplied by the number of months remaining in the contract.
In case of litigation, NewJeans will have its operations frozen and lose all of the advancement opportunities outlined at HYBE.
Business Post does a simple calculation from the above standards and the amount will amount to 210 billion won. Even if Min Hee Jin calls for capital from foreign investors, she will still struggle to complete the problem of “freeing NewJeans”.
Not to mention, litigation could last for years, meaning NewJeans’ operations would be frozen. Kpop is a vibrant market, one wave after another, a girl group can completely be replaced.
In this case, NewJeans will definitely miss the golden time and advancement opportunities that HYBE has outlined. According to Min Hee Jin, the benefits outweigh the harm.
According to the reporter