The green striped sweater worn by ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin during a press conference where she refuted claims by HYBE has sold out. The sweater, from Japanese apparel brand California General Store, retails for 8,800 yen (about £45). Both the green and cream-colored versions of the sweater are currently sold out on the store’s website.
Members of NewJeans, the popular K-pop girl group, reportedly earned KRW5.2 billion (USD3.7 million) each in 2023, according to released ADOR documents. The collective payout of KRW26.1 billion (USD19 million) contributes to ADOR’s overall earnings of KRW110.3 billion (USD80 million) for the year. This growth has positioned ADOR as the third highest earning label under HYBE, following Big Hit Music and Pledis Entertainment. Despite an ongoing dispute between HYBE and ADOR, NewJeans is expected to release new music next month.
South Korea’s entertainment giant Hybe has officially filed a police complaint against executives of its sublabel ADOR, accusing them of breach of trust and other offenses. The move follows an internal audit launched by Hybe in April after allegations surfaced that ADOR’s CEO Min Hee-jin was planning to make the sublabel independent. Hybe has also demanded Min’s resignation. Min has denied these claims and counter-accused Hybe of copying ADOR’s girl group NewJeans’ concept for another sublabel’s group. Hybe, however, claims to have evidence that Min intended to take control of ADOR, including messages discussing the pressuring of Hybe to sell ADOR’s shares. This development has raised concerns about Hybe’s multi-label strategy, where it operates various independent labels to diversify its portfolio. Analysts have previously identified this strategy as a strength for Hybe, allowing it to offset the impact of BTS’s hiatus due to military service.
HYBE has released an interim audit report accusing ADOR CEO, Min Hee Jin, of spearheading a plan to seize management control of the subsidiary. The allegations stem from internal digital evidence suggesting ADOR’s intentions to approach external investors, pursue legal action against HYBE, and potentially force bankruptcy to acquire the company. HYBE claims to possess ‘concrete evidence’ of this plot, prompting the company to initiate formal charges against Min Hee Jin for ‘breach of trust.’ Min Hee Jin has previously been hailed as the ‘mother’ of NewJeans, assuming the lead in 2019 and transitioning NewJeans trainees from Source Music to ADOR. HYBE’s audit report has sparked a confrontation between the BTS label and NewJeans’ management company, with ADOR accusing HYBE of plagiarism.
HYBE Corporation, the leading entertainment conglomerate in South Korea, has initiated an audit of ADOR, the subsidiary responsible for the popular girl group NewJeans. HYBE suspects that executives at ADOR, led by CEO Min Hee-Jin, are preparing to separate the label from the conglomerate. ADOR was established in 2021 and Min holds an 18% stake in the company. However, Min has denied the allegations, labelling them as a form of punishment for her criticism of Belift, another HYBE label.
HYBE and ADOR, a South Korean entertainment agency home to NewJeans, are embroiled in a public feud and power struggle. HYBE has accused ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin of attempting to seize control of the agency, while Min denies these claims. The dispute has raised concerns about the future of NewJeans and has led to a decline in HYBE’s stock price.
Amidst the ongoing power struggle between ADOR, the label behind K-pop girl group NewJeans, and entertainment giant HYBE, it has been revealed that the group is expected to release new music next month as planned. According to a source with knowledge of the matter, NewJeans will make a comeback in Korea with a new single in May, regardless of the cooperation between ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and HYBE. Last month, NewJeans announced the upcoming release of two single albums and a world tour in 2025, with the first single, ‘How Sweet’, slated for release on May 24. However, the status of the second release, planned as the group’s Japanese debut on June 21, remains uncertain amidst the current dispute.
Reports indicate that HYBE has initiated an audit against ADOR, alleging attempts by the latter to become independent. ADOR and its CEO, Min Hee-jin, have denied these claims, asserting the impossibility of seizing management rights due to HYBE’s majority stake.
ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin has accused HYBE, the majority owner of ADOR, of undermining the success of its girl group NewJeans. She claims ILLIT, a new girl group under HYBE subsidiary Belift Lab, is a copycat version of NewJeans in terms of makeup, costumes, choreography, and more. Min states that she has filed an official complaint but alleges that HYBE and Belift have denied any wrongdoing. She also denies allegations that she is attempting to take control of ADOR, a HYBE subsidiary.
ADOR has released a statement in response to HYBE’s audit against their management, including CEO Min Hee Jin. ADOR alleges that HYBE’s subsidiary, BELIFT LAB, has copied the concept of ADOR’s popular girl group NewJeans with their own debut group ILLIT. ADOR claims that HYBE has not taken responsibility for the copying and demands an apology and measures to prevent further infringement.
