This captured image shows NewJeans members in their YouTube livestream on Sept. 11, 2024. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 12 (Korea Bizwire) –In a surprising turn of events, the popular K-pop girl group NewJeans has issued an ultimatum to their management company HYBE and its chairman Bang Si-hyuk, demanding the reinstatement of former CEO Min Hee-jin by September 25.
This bold move has led industry insiders to speculate about the possibility of contract termination proceedings.
Given the unlikelihood of HYBE acquiescing to this demand, experts suggest that the members may file for an injunction to suspend their exclusive contracts after the September 25 deadline. Such an action would escalate the so-called “ADOR affair” into a full-fledged contract dispute.
On September 11, the five members of NewJeans held an unannounced YouTube live stream, stating, “What we want is the original ADOR, with Min Hee-jin as CEO, where management and production are integrated.” They demanded that ADOR be “restored to its original state” by September 25.
While the members did not specify their next steps should their demands go unmet, Minji’s statement that “this is the way to get along with HYBE without fighting” suggests a willingness to escalate the situation if necessary. Haerin also expressed her reluctance to conform to or follow the direction set by the current management.
Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and girl group NewJeans are seen in this composite photo provided by Yonhap News TV. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Industry observers largely believe that HYBE is unlikely to comply with the members’ demands, given the company’s ongoing conflicts with Min over the past five months and the fact that her dismissal was a decision made by ADOR’s board of directors.
The situation draws parallels to typical contract disputes in the entertainment industry, where artists express dissatisfaction with their agencies and may file for injunctions to suspend their exclusive contracts if their concerns are not addressed within a specified timeframe.
Some speculate that NewJeans members might take similar legal action two weeks after their stated deadline.
The members have previously shown strong support for Min, referring to her as their “mother” and even submitting a petition to the court in May for her retention. They also expressed their unwavering affection for her at a recent music awards ceremony.
If NewJeans, a leading fourth-generation girl group and Billboard 200 chart-topper, decides to part ways with their agency, the impact could be significant. ADOR, which exclusively manages NewJeans, reported sales of 110.3 billion won last year.
The group’s future world tour plans could also be affected if a contract dispute materializes. In such a scenario, the fate of NewJeans would largely depend on court decisions regarding any injunctions or disputes.
K-pop girl group NewJeans is seen in this photo provided by ADOR. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The members have alluded to “unreasonable and incomprehensible” incidents since their debut, including alleged instances of disrespect from other artists’ managers within the HYBE system.
While terminating their contracts by paying a penalty is theoretically possible, industry experts estimate the amount could reach hundreds of billions of won, making it an impractical option.
Some observers suggest that NewJeans might opt for a public relations strategy, gradually revealing grievances to sway public opinion, rather than immediately resorting to legal action.
Kim Do-heon, a pop music critic, noted, “Based on their YouTube live stream, it seems NewJeans cannot accept the current system of HYBE and ADOR. While it’s premature to predict the outcome, it’s clear that the long-standing conflict between the two parties has entered a new phase.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
