HYBE v/s ADOR worsens; Min Hee-jin levels allegations, HYBE reacts
HYBE has publicly disputed the accuracy of statements made by ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin during a press conference on Thursday. The company accused Min of distorting facts and presenting them in a misleading manner. Min denied allegations of staging a coup in the conference which came after HYBE's interim audit report was announced in the morning, revealing formal accusation will be filed against Min and other individuals for "occupational breach of trust."
HYBE can 'refute claims with evidence' but chose not to
"Of what was claimed by CEO Min Hee Jin at the press conference today, there is so much that is far from the truth to the point that it is difficult to go through them one by one," read HYBE's latest statement. The agency noted although it can "refute all claims with evidence," it has "decided not to mention them one by one as we judge that they are not worth responding to."
HYBE demanded Min's prompt resignation
HYBE, the famed agency behind BTS, further demanded the prompt resignation of Min "as she has already proven herself unfit to be in charge of management." To note, on Monday, the South Korean entertainment giant launched a probe into its subsidiary wing, ADOR, alleging the Min-led division was trying to assert its independence. Since then, Min has refuted the allegations and accused other HYBE groups (like BELIFT LAB's ILLIT) of copying her girl group, the uber-popular NewJeans.
'I didn't betray HYBE, but HYBE betrayed me'
Min expressed feeling unfairly treated by HYBE. She revealed how NewJeans was branded as the super-agency's first girl group but HYBE debuted LE SSERAFIM (managed by another subsidiary Source Music) first. "I didn't betray HYBE, but HYBE betrayed me. I feel like they're trying to frame me to suppress me." "If I wanted money, I wouldn't have made an internal accusation. I can earn...just by sitting still. But I can't stand to see what I don't like...That's why I'm suffering."
NewJeans members called Min, cried for 20 minutes
Min also revealed the emotional impact of the dispute on members of NewJeans, a girl group she created in 2021. She shared that the members had called her at night and cried for 20 minutes. "They said they felt sorry for me and cried a lot," an emotional Min said at the conference. HYBE has requested the ADOR CEO to stop mentioning the artists. NewJeans comprises members Hanni, Minji, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein.