Min Hee-jin Discusses Her Future with NewJeans Amid Conflict with HYBE

Min Hee-jin. Sports Chosun DB

Min Hee-jin, former CEO of ADOR, expressed her determination to follow through with her plans for the group NewJeans, despite ongoing conflicts with HYBE.

Japan's TV Asahi and ANN news program 'Press Station' aired an interview with Min on the 15th. This was her first interview with a broadcaster since she was dismissed as CEO of ADOR.

Min, often referred to as "NewJeans' Mom," stepped down as CEO in August. At the time, ADOR explained, "Min Hee-jin will remain as an in-house director at ADOR and continue producing for NewJeans as before."

However, in the interview, Min said, "I am no longer a producer or a CEO," but added, "I am still working on the projects I had previously planned and initiated. I just can't let go of them," explaining her current role within the company.

She went on to say, "I've been discussing with the members and still working on things, but I'm unsure about the next step," adding, "I want to resolve this situation quickly."

Regarding NewJeans' future, she said, "I don’t know what their future plans are. I'm not a fortune teller, am I? I’ll just leave it to fate."

Min also referenced the originally planned schedule for NewJeans. "We had planned to kick off a world tour next year and release a full-length album at the beginning of the year, but who could have predicted things would turn out this way?"

Hanni, who attended the parliamentary audit as a reference, was also mentioned by Min. "Since I’m not in Seoul right now, I feel like I need to step in and play the role of a 'mom' for her in Seoul," Min explained. "Someone has to be there for support."

Min further commented, "The members’ mothers are around my age. My friends are slightly younger, so I tell the members, 'Your mom and dad used to enjoy this kind of thing.' It's a natural way to introduce them to things I liked, but I have no intention of turning them into avatars. Each member has such a unique personality and distinct preferences."

Min also reiterated her stance that the board’s personnel decision was "unlawful." In the interview, she questioned whether she should propose another producer, while also expressing concerns about being accused of breach of trust.

"I wanted to create a new type of label that could shape the future of K-pop when I established ADOR," she explained. "HYBE invited me to be part of that vision, and I chose them among many options. If certain conditions hadn't been guaranteed, I wouldn’t have joined the company."

Min has filed a provisional injunction, requesting her reinstatement, claiming that the board’s personnel decision was unjust. She explained that the reason she is fighting for the right to manage ADOR is because, during her time at SM Entertainment, she was limited to production roles. This created numerous dilemmas as a creator. She emphasized that production, investment, and management need to work together to follow through on plans and achieve goals. "Efficiency is determined by how you spend and cut costs."

She concluded, "This is a matter of life for everyone involved, including myself. That’s why I’m fighting. I see this as a pause, not the end. The dispute will eventually be resolved, and I will do my best to carry out the NewJeans plan."