"It was incorrect information" — HYBE denies allegations of downplaying NewJeans, highlighting the serious violation of journalistic ethics

On September 25, 2024, HYBE denied allegations of downplaying NewJeans, after a Seoul Newspaper reporter accused the company of media play. The reporter claimed, during the broadcast of CBS’s Kim Hyun Jung’s News Show, that a representative from the company approached them to rectify the girl group's album sales in Japan.

HYBE clarified that the article stated that NewJeans sold over 1 million album copies in Japan alone. However, the group only sold 50,000 albums in Japan and over 900,000 in South Korea. They added that they had "absolutely no reason" to negatively approach the girl group's achievements.

"The reporter wrote that over 1.02 million albums were sold ‘in Japan alone.’ However, at the time, only around 50,000 were sold in Japan, and over 900,000 were sold in Korea. We requested a correction because it was incorrect information. There’s absolutely no reason for us to speak negatively about NewJeans’ achievements,” stated HYBE.

The company underscored a serious "violation of journalistic ethics" as the reporter leaked a work-related conversation, adding that they were distorting facts. Clarifying further about the journalist's claim about the use of the term "gaslighting," HYBE commented,

"In the entertainment industry, when creators and artists form strong bonds, there can be attempts to seize control of management regardless of shareholding ratios. This is where the term was used during the explanation. This is a serious violation of journalistic ethics.”

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HYBE and ADOR denied reinstating Min Hee-jin as ADOR's CEO in the latest shareholders' meeting

On September 25, 2024, ADOR's board of directors announced their final decision by refusing to reappoint Min Hee-jin as the label's CEO. The emergency shareholders' meeting was held after NewJeans held an unauthorized YouTube livestream on September 11, demanding Min Hee-jin be made ADOR's CEO by September 25.

For the unversed, the ADOR board of directors fired Min Hee-jin from the role of CEO on August 27, 2024. They appointed HYBE's former Chief of Human Resources Officer, Kim Joo-young, as the new ADOR CEO. This happened after Min Hee-jin reportedly tried to overthrow ADOR's management and take over the label. She was also accused, by HYBE, of insider trading.

NewJeans expressed their displeasure at the change of management by holding an unsanctioned YouTube livestream and gave the parent company an ultimatum.

On September 25, ADOR stated that although they won't make Min Hee-jin the label's CEO, they are willing to extend her contract as the internal producer for NewJeans during the remainder of their contract term.

"The ADOR board of directors discussed today's request for reinstatement as CEO as it is currently unacceptable. Since the basic guarantees regarding the status, period, and authority as the PD in charge of producing NewJeans have been made, we expect that negotiations will take place regarding specific conditions in the future."

ADOR's only group, NewJeans, debuted in November 2022 as HYBE's second girl group, following Source Music's LE SSERAFIM's debut in May. Both ADOR and Source Music are subsidiary labels under HYBE. Hence, NewJeans still have an additional five-year term left on their contract with the parent company.

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Currently, Min Hee-jin refuses to sign the modified contract offered by ADOR. Her legal representatives still demanded the parent company reinstate her to her original position as ADOR's CEO.