'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIH/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA//aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAvPhi/8QAHhAAAQQCAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgEDBAUTIQAGB2H/2gAIAQEAAT8AalTqP1EHokwgfs6JJxm0OPHlf2H1Ncu+99jj3M9hm/twabkOAApKLSIXP//EABYRAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACMf/aAAgBAgEBPwBYf//EABYRAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAv/aAAgBAwEBPwCUf//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
On September 13, 2024, a South Korean media outlet Ten Asia reported that HYBE responded to the legal action taken by former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin regarding her dismissal and her bid for reinstatement as CEO.
The entertainment company revealed that the shareholder agreement between them and Min Hee-jin had already been terminated, rendering it legally ineffective.
The company also noted that a lawsuit had been filed to confirm this termination, and they are currently awaiting the court's ruling. The label stated (as translated from Korean):
“The shareholder agreement between HYBE and former CEO Min Hee-jin has already been terminated. Once the agreement is terminated, its legal effect is void. A lawsuit has been filed to confirm the termination of the shareholder agreement, and we are awaiting the court’s decision.”
Trending
The label further emphasized that Min Hee-jin's removal as CEO was a decision made solely by ADOR's board of directors as part of a broader business strategy. The decision was taken independent of HYBE's involvement or the shareholder agreement.
The company expressed disappointment over Min Hee-jin’s lack of respect for the board's decision, despite her past advocacy for ADOR's autonomy. They stated:
“We regret that Min Hee-jin, who has long emphasized the importance of ADOR’s independent management as a separate entity, is not respecting ADOR’s board of directors’ decision.”
Min Hee-jin files injunction against HYBE to regain positions as ADOR CEO and internal director
Earlier today on September 13, 2024, the former CEO Min Hee-jin filed an injunction with the Seoul Central District Court to be reinstated as an inside director and CEO of ADOR. Her legal representatives argue that her dismissal by HYBE violated the terms of the shareholder agreement, which had guaranteed her a five-year term in both positions.
This legal move follows the earlier announcement on August 27, 2024, by ADOR, which stated that Kim Joo-young, had been appointed as the new CEO. While Min Hee-jin would continue as an internal director responsible for NewJeans’ production.
Following the announcement, all five members of NewJeans, Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein publicly expressed their dissatisfaction in an urgent live YouTube broadcast on September 11. They demanded that HYBE reinstate Min Hee-jin as CEO by September 25. They stated:
"What we want is the original ADOR, where Min Hee-jin remains as CEO and where management and producing are integrated. If our message has been properly conveyed, we hope Bang Si-hyuk and HYBE will make the wise decision to revert ADOR back to its original state by the 25th."
The members also highlighted Hee-jin's integral role in their artistic vision and the group's identity, stating that they feel unable to continue their work in the same manner without her leadership.
Meanwhile, both the video and the YouTube channel where the NewJeans member hosted the sudden live have seemingly been deleted.
