According to K-pop industry insiders, 10,000 members of the “Bunnies” — the devoted fan base of NewJeans — submitted a petition to the 50th Civil Affairs Division of the Seoul Central District Court on May 24. (Image: Yonhap News TV)
SEOUL, May 25 (Korea Bizwire) – As a court decision looms that could determine the fate of Min Hee-jin, the founder of the ADOR record label and the former manager of NewJeans, a fierce legal battle is unfolding between Min and her critics at Hybe, the K-pop juggernaut.
According to K-pop industry insiders, 10,000 members of the “Bunnies” — the devoted fan base of NewJeans — submitted a petition to the 50th Civil Affairs Division of the Seoul Central District Court on May 24.
In the petition, the fans wrote, “We understand that it is the wish of the NewJeans members for Min Hee-jin’s position as CEO of ADOR to be maintained until it is legally concluded whether she has engaged in unlawful actions, as the contract between the parties should be respected until then. Our intention to support NewJeans is the same.”
The petition garnered 10,000 signatures within about 16 hours of its launch, reaching the fans’ target.
Hybe, however, is pushing to remove Min as CEO, alleging she attempted to wrest control of the company. An extraordinary shareholders’ meeting at ADOR to vote on her dismissal is scheduled for May 31.
But Min has fought back, filing for an injunction to block the exercise of voting rights, sparking an intense battle between the two sides.
Prominent figures in the K-pop world, including Bang Si-Hyuk, the chairman of Hybe, have submitted petitions supporting Min’s ouster, lending weight to Hybe’s efforts.
Among those known to have filed petitions are Pdogg, a producer for BTS; Han Sung-soo, the founder of Pledis Entertainment who discovered Seventeen; So Sung-jin, the CEO of Source Music who created Le Sserafim; Son Sung-deuk, the choreographer for BTS; Kim Sung-hyun, the creative director for BTS and Le Sserafim; and Slow Rabbit, a producer for Tomorrow X Together.
In his petition, parts of which were disclosed at a preliminary injunction hearing on May 17, Bang wrote, “The actions of one person’s malice should not be allowed to undermine the system that many people have built over a long time. And that is the strength of our social system to prevent an individual’s malice and misconduct from collapsing social institutions and order.”
He added, “I view this case from the grave and desperate perspective of establishing proper rules and precedents for the entire K-pop industry, in addition to creating a better creative environment and system as an entrepreneurial calling.”
Other petitioners also reportedly expressed concerns about protecting the value of the “multi-label system” and preventing the entertainment industry from being shaken by one person’s (Min’s) pursuit of self-interest.
The decision on the injunction request is expected to arrive before next week’s extraordinary shareholders’ meeting.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
