HYBE-ADOR feud: a comprehensive timeline of events
The ongoing feud between South Korean entertainment giant HYBE and its subsidiary label ADOR has emerged as one of the most high profile feuds we’ve witnessed in K-pop in recent memory.
READ MORE: aespa â âArmageddonâ review: the girl group shine brightest at their most experimentalADOR, which houses popular K-pop girl group NewJeans, is helmed by former SM Entertainment creative director Min Hee-jin and was once poised to become one of HYBE’s most lucrative labels. However, it is now at the centre of an alleged power struggle over the treatment and management of NewJeans and future creative projects under ADOR.
Founded in November 2021, Min Hee-jin launched the label after two years as HYBE’s Chief Brand Officer. The futures of both ADOR and NewJeans remains unclear as the label and its parent company continue to vie for control and autonomy over management and creative direction of the label and NewJeans.
Although many blanks have yet to be filled in the overarching battle, below is a full timeline of events that have occurred since both parties have taken their dispute to the public arena.
April 22, 2024 â HYBE launches internal audit of ADORThe first signs of a power struggle between HYBE and its subsidiary K-pop agency ADOR, home to NewJeans, first emerged on April 22, when South Korean media reported that the audit team of entertainment giant HYBE had launched an investigation into ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and an unnamed executive of the company.
HYBE later confirmed that it did launch an audit into ADOR executives over a suspicion that they were trying to take control of the K-pop agency, however no specific staff members were named in HYBE’s confirmation. Following the news, the stock price of HYBE began to drop.
April 22, 2024 â ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin accuses HYBE of “undermining” NewJeans’ successShortly after the news of HYBE’s audit into ADOR broke, CEO Min Hee-jin issued a statement accusing HYBE of “undermining” NewJeans’ success. She claimed HYBE had copied the âmakeup, costumes, choreography, photos, videos and event appearancesâ of NewJeans for its latest girl group ILLIT, who debuted under separate subsidiary Belift Lab in late March.
Min also claimed that she had filed an official complaint over what she described was a “copycat issue”, claiming that both HYBE and Belift Lab ârefused to acknowledge any wrongdoing, merely coming up with a string of excuses and delaying concrete responsesâ. In the same statement, she also refuted HYBE’s allegations about her trying to take control of the company.
âI cannot understand how legitimate actions aimed at preserving the cultural achievements of affiliated artists like NewJeans are being twisted into conduct against ADORâs interests or attempts to usurp its management rights,â she wrote.
April 24, 2024 â HYBE CEO Park Ji-won claims to have discovered evidence of Min and other executives “trying to seize control” of ADORYonhap News Agency reported that Park had sent a company-wide email stating that evidence of ADOR executives’ attempts at “seizing control” of the label has been found, adding that he will âtake appropriate actions after confirming more [of the truth] through this auditâ. In the same email, Park also claimed that the alleged takeover plans were âset in motion long before ILLIT made their debutâ.
April 24, 2024 â Min Hee-jin and ADOR executives deny claims of a takeoverMin Hee-jin told a separate South Korean news outlet in an interview, per CNA, that she has never âmet with any investor to take over management rights of ADORâ. She also alleged that it would be “impossible” for her to do so “without consent” from HYBE, as she only owns 18 per cent of the company, with other company executives holding 2 per cent and HYBE owning 80 per cent of ADOR. She also revealed that she was âsuddenly notified of my dismissalâ after raising concerns of similarities between ILLIT and NewJeans.
An anonymous deputy CEO of ADOR also claimed in another interview with Yonhap News Agency that the alleged evidence HYBE uncovered were nothing more than âpersonal reflectionsâ about the âlong-standing conflicts between HYBE and ADORâ. They also claimed that the documents containing the alleged evidence “have not been discussed with Min and other ADOR executives”.
April 25, 2024 â HYBE announces intention to file complaint against Min Hee-jinDespite ADOR executives disputing the legitimacy of the alleged evidence found by HYBE, HYBE announced intentions to file a formal complaint against Min Hee-jin following the internal audit, maintaining that it secured physical evidence that “confirms the executive directorâs involvement in drafting plans to usurp control of the companyâ.
The complaint was later filed at the Yongsan Police Station against both Min and another unnamed executive of ADOR on the same day. HYBE representatives also shared that it has seen messages between ADOR executives discussing plans to âstrip [the K-pop agency] to its shell and take it awayâ and âpull global funds to deal with HYBEâ.
April 25, 2024 â Min Hee-jin holds press conference to deny claims made against her by HYBEDuring the press conference, Min told Korean press that she “was not expecting” the audit, instead claiming that she had initially made an âinternal report [about the similarities between NewJeans and Belift Lab group ILLIT]â in hopes of it being âaddressed formally by the companyâ.
Min also claimed that the conversations brought up by HYBE as evidence of her alleged plans to take over ADOR were “rid of the context of where they came fromâ. Her legal counsel also told press that âthere was no incident where Min tried to diminish the company valueâ and that âyou cannot âplotâ to breach the trust. This just doesnât count as thatâ.
During the conference, Min also shared how she believes the company âused me to the fullest and now wants to take me down because I donât listen to themâ. She also said that HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk âwouldnât let me [establish ADOR and launch NewJeans] unless the company held a 100 per cent stakeâ, but that she allegedly relented because âa fight wouldâve taken monthsâ.
Min also told press that members of the HYBE team had told her ânot to promote NewJeans before LE SSERAFIM‘s debut, because they wanted people to think that LE SSERAFIM was Min Hee-jinâs girl groupâ.
âThey never let me promote NewJeans as the first girl group from Min Hee-jin because they intentionally wanted to confuse people,â the ADOR CEO claimed. âThat was all Bang Si-hyukâs doing.â
During the conference, Min also began questioning HYBE’s motives for NewJeans: âDoes HYBE really care about NewJeans? NewJeans releases something tomorrow, and they do this?â She also claimed that NewJeans would be ânothing plannedâ without her, while claiming that âHYBE is acting like it doesnât careâ.
According to The Korea Herald, HYBE claimed that Min had “manipulated the truth” during the conference and have asked for her to resign as CEO of ADOR.
April 26, 2024 â HYBE refutes Min Hee-jin’s press conference claimsA day after Min’s two-hour press conference, HYBE issued a statement refuting her claims, alleging that âso much [of what Min claimed during the press conference] is far from the truth to the point that it is difficult to go through them one by oneâ.
HYBE claimed that Min had âdistorted the facts by mixing up the timelineâ, while claiming that they âcan refute all claims with evidenceâ. However, HYBE also stated that it has âdecided not to mention them one by one as we judge that they are not worth responding toâ.
In its statement, HYBE also urged Min to âresign promptly for the proper management of ADOR as she has already proven herself unfit to be in charge of managementâ.
May 2, 2024 â Min Hee-jin had reportedly “demanded” that HYBE give her the authority to “terminate” NewJeans’ contractsYonhap News Agency cited unnamed industry insiders in a report that Min had allegedly “demanded” the authority to “terminate” NewJeans’ exclusive contracts with the company. According to the outlet, Min allegedly made the request after negotiations between the executives of the K-pop agency and its owner HYBE over a revised shareholders agreement had hit a roadblock around the tail-end of 2023. However, HYBE rejected her request, calling it “too much”.
Min has since confirmed that the “request” was submitted in a proposal to HYBE, however claimed that it was to âaddress unreasonable interference [by HYBE], an issue that emerged during NewJeansâ debut, and to ensure independent management of the labelâ in a statement. She also denied that this request was related to allegations of a takeover levied against her by HYBE.
May 7, 2024 â HYBE requests an shareholders’ meeting to fire Min Hee-jinâHYBE has requested an extraordinary shareholdersâ meeting to fire Min Hee-jin, CEO and board member of ADOR, which is a violation of the shareholdersâ contract between Min and HYBE,â Minâs legal representative told press, per Korea JoongAng Daily. HYBE owns 80 per cent of ADOR, while Min owns 18 per cent.
May 9, 2024 â Min Hee-jin files injunction to stop HYBE shareholder meetingâMin Hee-jin contends that HYBEâs argument regarding breach of trust by Min makes no sense, which is why she resulted in filing for the injunction in order to protect the corporate value of ADOR and its artists,â the representative added, per Korea JoongAng Daily. Meanwhile, Yongsan police told the outlet that  it will “conduct a speedy and thorough investigation” on Min.Â
May 10, 2024 â ADOR set to hold internal shareholder meeting to vote on Min Hee-jin’s dismissal as CEOThe company and its legal counsel announced the shareholder meeting on May 10, saying the move was made âunder the attendance of all board membersâ, which included Min Hee-jin, with the meeting set to be held on May 31. The meeting will determine ADOR’s stance on whether Min Hee-jin will be fired from her current position as CEO of the subsidiary label.
May 13, 2024 â NewJeans’ parents allegedly speak out in new letter, HYBE respondsThe letter was published via South Korean news outlet eDaily, allegedly written by the parents of NewJeans’ members. It was reportedly first sent to Min Hee-jin on March 31, who later shared it with HYBE on April 3, before the feud between ADOR and HYBE was made public and only a week after ILLIT had officially debuted.
âWe express deep concern over the controversy that has risen with many similarities in concept [â¦] between NewJeans and a group that debuted under another label of HYBE,â the letter reads, as translated by Soompi. âIt is deeply regrettable that another label under the same parent company could plan a team that is intentionally reminiscent of NewJeans.â
âIf these situations continue, this will undoubtedly damage NewJeansâs reputation and brand value,â NewJeansâ parents alleged, while claiming that the members of the girl group are âexperiencing severe mental distress in this processâ.
In the letter, NewJeansâ parents also claimed that HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk would âignore the NewJeans members and their greetings whenever he ran into them at the companyâ, alleging that âthis happened on several occasionsâ.
Shortly after the letter was publicised, HYBE responded via a statement to a separate outlet claiming that the real authors of the letter are Min and an unnamed vice president from ADOR. The music giant also denied several allegations in the letter, including claims of plagiarism and neglect.
HYBE also claimed that Min âdrag[ged] in artists and their families in her own battles for her personal greedâ by allegedly doctoring the letter, while claiming that it has evidence the email was âpart of the plan for the takeover of management rights [of ADOR by Min]â. âWe plan to submit this evidence to investigative and judicial authorities,” HYBE also said in response.
May 23, 2024 â Belift Lab sues Min Hee-jin for defamation over plagiarism claimsBelift Lab, the HYBE subsidiary ILLIT is housed under, filed a defamation complaint against Min Hee-jin over her claims that ILLIT had plagiarised NewJeans. âWe filed a complaint against CEO Min for making false claims unilaterally against our company and artists and causing damage,â Belift Lab said in a statement. âWe make it clear that the plagiarism allegations raised by Min against our artist ILLIT are not true.â
âWe have submitted evidence to the judicial authorities that can prove the accusations are unfounded, and although it may take some time, we will resolve this issue through proper legal procedures,â the K-pop agency added.
May 30, 2024 â Court grants Min Hee-jin injunction against HYBEThe Seoul Central District Court ruled in favour of Min Hee-jin following her filing of an injunction to stop HYBE from exercising their voting rights and dismissing her from her current position as CEO of ADOR.
âThe reasons for Min Hee-jinâs dismissal or resignation claimed by HYBE have not been sufficiently substantiated,â the court said of its decision. âWhile Min Hee-jinâs actions may be considered betrayal to HYBE, it is difficult to say that they constitute actions of breach of trust in regards to ADOR.â
In response to the court’s decision, HYBE said it ârespects the courtâs decisionâ and âwill not exercise voting rights [â¦] at the upcoming extraordinary meeting of shareholdersâ. The company also shared that it has “plans to proceed with subsequent steps within the boundaries set by the lawâ.
May 31, 2024 â Min Hee-jin retains her role as ADOR CEO, two “close aides” dismissedThe scheduled extraordinary shareholders’ meeting held on May 31 determined that Min Hee-jin will keep her position as ADOR CEO, however two of her “close aides” â only identified as Shin and Kim â were dismissed and replaced by three C-suite executive officials from HYBE. Yonhap News Agency noted that this decision would provide HYBE more “control” of the board.
May 31, 2024 â Min Hee-jin holds second press conference to address NewJeans’ and ADOR’s futureThe second press conference held by Min Hee-jin took place the day of the shareholders’ meeting, during which she addressed her current relationship with HYBE and the future of the subsidiary label and its artists.
Min told press that plans for upcoming NewJeans activities have been âall thrown up in the air because of the ongoing month-long battleâ. Notably, prior to the feud, the girl group had announced several new music releases, as well as a world tour for 2025.
âMy foremost goal is to carry out the plans as I wanted with no problems. And now, since HYBE is now listening to my side, I hope that we can amicably settle,â she added. âIf I donât do this, and NewJeans has to take leave until our organisational matters settle, who does that benefit?â
Min also added that âwhat will be done in the future remains to be seenâ at this current juncture. âBut if HYBE wants to develop ADOR and its vision for NewJeans, then they would need to discuss that with me,â she continued.
July 9, 2024 â Min Hee-jin questioned by police for eight hoursThe music executive was reportedly questioned by South Korean police for eight hours according to Korea JoongAng Daily on July 9, telling reporters that she was “glad to tell the truth and let it all out”, despite “HYBE report[ing] me and it [taking] me time [to explain].â
âIt couldnât have been breach of trust. It just seems like comedy to me. So I told them everything truthfully,â the ADOR CEO said. She declined to comment on whether she would report HYBE for defamation or other charges.
July 15, 2024 â Source Music files US$360,000 lawsuit against Min Hee-jinFellow HYBE subsidiary Source Music â home to LE SSERAFIM â filed a lawsuit against Min, seeking KRW500million (roughly US$360,000) in damages for defamation and interfering with business.
In a statement to Billboard, Source Music stated: âThe labelâs accusations primarily include three complaints: (A) Min claimed that she personally selected the members of NewJeans as trainees (B) Min claimed that the company unilaterally broke its promise to debut NewJeans as HYBEâs first girl group and (C) Min claimed Source Music neglected the members of NewJeans.â
August 27, 2024 â Min Hee-jin steps down as CEO of ADOR, which she claims was not her choiceADOR announced during a board meeting that Min Hee-jin would step down from her role as CEO of the label, simultaneously announcing that Kim Ju-young, director of the board, would assume the position of CEO following Min’s departure. Despite her resignation from the role, ADOR wrote that she remains on the company’s board of directors and would continue to produce for NewJeans.
ADOR said that Min being in change of both the management of the label as well as the production of NewJeans was âthe only exception among all the HYBE labelsâ. It added that it promises to âprovide the best support for the success of NewJeans with this change in structureâ, per Korea JoongAng Daily.
Two hours after ADOR’s announcement, Min herself claimed in a new statement that her move to step down was not made of her own volition. âThe board made the decision regardless of the CEOâs wishes,â she said, calling the move âa grave violation of the shareholdersâ contractâ.
After Min’s statement, ADOR addressed her claims in a second statement on the same day, saying that the board meeting was “held according to the law”. âThe date was chosen out of the list that Min Hee-jin gave. Min took part in the meeting online and the board made the optimal decision for the future of ADOR and NewJeans,â it wrote.
August 30, 2024 â Min Hee-jin rejects “unreasonable” temporary contract to produce for NewJeansMin published a statement announcing her rejection of HYBE’s offer to continue producing for NewJeans, calling the terms of the contract “unreasonable” and “a trick” designed to force her rejection of it.
According to Min, the contract would have her retained to produce for the girl group from August 27 to November 1, which she claimed was “unrealistic” given HYBE’s purported “expect[ations of] the successful completion of crucial production tasks, such as preparing for NewJeansâ world tour in 2025”.
She also claimed that it included clauses that would allow the company to immediately terminate the agreement if âher work performance was deemed insufficient or if the companyâs business circumstances changedâ.
In response ADOR released a statement on the same day, claiming that the new two-month contract was meant to cover the remainder of her contract, which expires on November 1.
September 2, 2024 â NewJeans express frustration over ADOR-HYBE feud on social mediaNewJeans members Danielle, Minji and Hanni uploaded several posts to fan community app Phoning to express their frustration over the ongoing managerial changes within ADOR.
Danielle wrote that she had âa lot of concernsâ since Min Hee-jin was dismissed as CEO of ADOR. âItâs been difficult in many ways [â¦] For a while, I was in a state of mental breakdown and very anxious,â she added.
Meanwhile, Minji said that she wanted to âcomfortâ them despite her frustration that ânothing has been solvedâ about the situation. âI was so frustrated with myself for not being able to solve anything. I am so sorry that weâre going through this unnecessary trouble when thereâs already not enough time in the day to focus on the good things,â she wrote.
Hanni, despite not speaking directly about the situation, did touch on Min Hee-jin’s dismissal. âI was originally just practising writing songs and lyrics with my guitar, but Bunnies⦠our members⦠our CEO [Min Hee-jin]⦠I am also struggling at this time, but I wanted to comfort everyone and get rid of all my heartache.â
September 4, 2024 â Fans call for HYBE to reinstate Min Hee-jin as ADOR’s CEOOver 1,000 self-identified fans of NewJeans have expressed concerns about âthe management shake-upâ at ADOR and how that could âimpact the groupâs futureâ in an open letter to HYBE. According to Yonhapâs “music industry sources”, the letter âdemanded Minâs term as CEO be guaranteed until November 2026 under the [original] agreementâ.
The letter also expressed disapproval of Kim Ju-young as ADORâs new CEO, saying âthey cannot understandâ why Kim was chosen as Minâs replacement given her previous role within HYBE as its chief human resources officer and her alleged lack of experience in the entertainment industry.
According to The Korea Times, some fans of NewJeans have also lodged a formal police complaint against media outlet Dispatch, HYBE and its subsidiary Source Music for allegedly breaching the Personal Information Protection Act and the Information and Communications Network Act.
They claimed that HYBE and Source Music âillegally collected and leaked personal information related to Min Hee-jin and NewJeansâ, which they alleged was fed to Dispatch for publication.
September 4, 2024 â NewJeans voice support for Min Hee-jin at awards ceremonyDuring their appearance at The Fact Music Awards in Osaka, NewJeans gave a shout-out to Min Hee-jin during their award acceptance speech. âWe truly love and thank [former] CEO Min Hee-jin who always cherishes and protects us,â member Danielle said.
Hyein also added that she âwant[ed] to say it one more time because it might be the last chanceâ, telling the audience that the group are âreally, really grateful to our CEOâ. âWe love you so much,â she concluded.
The post HYBE-ADOR feud: a comprehensive timeline of events appeared first on NME.
HYBE-ADOR feud: a comprehensive timeline of events
HYBE-ADOR feud: a comprehensive timeline of events
HYBE-ADOR feud: a comprehensive timeline of events
HYBE-ADOR feud: a comprehensive timeline of events
HYBE-ADOR feud: a comprehensive timeline of events
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