On April 22, 2024, Hybe released a statement asking Ador CEO Min-heejin to step down from being CEO. Hybe said it “called them to summon a shareholder meeting and sent an official letter to ask CEO Min to step down.” Min-heejin is known for creating concepts for groups like Red Velvet, Shinee, SNSD, Exo, and now New Jeans. In 2016, she won Best Visual and Art Director award at the Mama Awards. After this, Min-Heejin had a press meeting that was streamed; during this, she attacked multiple other girl groups, including ILLIT, which she accused of copying new jeans. She then brought up Aespa, another girl group under SM Entertainment. Min-Heejin said that Hybe asked her to ‘crush them.’
In early April, a report by Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service said that Min-Heejin had an 18% stake in Ador since last year. According to Koreaboo, she was negotiating with foreign investment advisors to try to take Ador away from Hybe.
On May 30, 2024, a South Korean court ruled that Min-Heejin could keep her role at Ador. The court reasoned that Hybe’s “ evidence and rationale were insufficient to back up the company’s case for Min-Heejin’s dismissal.” Although Hybe respected the ruling, they implied that they would take legal action in the future.
On May 31st,2024, on a Music Bank New Jeans episode, members Minji and Danielle thanked their CEO, Min-Heejin Minji, in a small speech: “Thanks to our amazing CEO who helped us in our amazing comeback and always supporting us.” Danielle added,“Once again, we would like to thank our beloved and precious CEO. CEO, we love you.” Because of this, many fans are wondering what New Jeans thought of the situation.
On July 31st, 2024, New Jeans Danielle writes a letter to Min-Heejin. The translated letter says. “My beloved CEO, it’s Dani. It’s been two years already. Our CEO, who did the most, thank you so, so much. So much has happened during the short and long two years that it almost feels like we went through everything we should have in seven years. Maybe it was a sacrifice for the future.”
On August 27th, Min-Heejin shocked fans by resigning as Ador’s CEO. According to Yonhap News Agency, she will be replaced by Kim Ju-young. She will still be working with New Jeans at Ador but as a producer rather than a CEO. After announcing this, New Jeans went on their app to connect with their fans, who called Phonning to share their thoughts about this. Korea JoongAng reported that Danielle posted and said she was in a state of mental breakdown. Minji wrote that she was so frustrated with herself for being unable to solve anything.
On September 11th, New Jeans made a brand new YouTube channel without their company’s knowledge and demanded Min-Heejin’s reinstatement. In the video, all five members read a paper and talked about how they felt after all that happened and about Hybe’s toxic work environment. Members said that she is ‘Integral to New Jean’s identity.” Minji added that “she is irreplaceable.” Fans became even more shocked when Hanni mentioned that when she greeted another group, the group’s manager stopped them and told them not to greet Hanni. Hanni felt as if Hybe was mistreating her.
After months of not hearing any updates from the girls or Hybe, on November 13th, New Jeans sent Hybe and Ador a letter stating that they would terminate their contracts if Hybe didn’t meet their demands. This also included the fact that Min-Heejin would come back as their CEO. In the list of demands, Ador was asked to “rectify all major contract violations within 14 days from the receipt of this letter.” They also requested an apology from the manager, who told another group to ignore Hanni. Toward the end of the letter, the members said, “Let CEO Min Hee-jin once again manage Ador and NewJeans as before. Bring back the Ador, where NewJeans enjoyed performing happily until March 2024. We miss NewJeans’ dream-filled vision of future music, performances, and creative activities with Min Hee-jin.” Neither Ador nor Hybe has responded.
