“We cast NewJeans and trained for several years”— Source Music alleges casting Hanni via HYBE auditions at first trial hearing against Min Hee-jin

Star News reported that Source Music has accused former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin of unlawfully recruiting members of the K-pop group NewJeans, leading to a complex dispute involving multiple subsidiaries of HYBE Corporation.

On January 10, 2025, the first trial hearing for Source Music and Belift Lab's defamation lawsuit against Min Hee-jin was held at the 12th Civil Affairs Department of the Seoul Western District Court. Although the former ADOR CEO was reportedly absent from the hearing, her legal representatives were present.

During the hearing, the court highlighted Min Hee-jin's claims regarding HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk's alleged promise to debut NewJeans as the company's first girl group. However, the promise wasn't fulfilled, as Source Music's girl group, LE SSERAFIM, debuted as HYBE's first girl group in May 2022.

Min Hee-jin claimed that NewJeans members had to be transferred to ADOR to enable an earlier debut, marking their official launch in July 2022. Meanwhile, Source Music refuted all allegations of such promises, stating that ADOR's girl group was officially cast via HYBE's global auditions. Source Music (the plaintiff) said:

"The defendant made groundless and insulting remarks during a press conference that the entire nation could watch. There may be many issues, but I looked at whether they amounted to false facts. We cast NewJeans and trained for several years, and cast Pam Hani through a global audition."

Source Music added:

"The defendant was not the main actor in the casting process during the audition, but HYBE conducted it."

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More about NewJeans' debut under ADOR and HYBE and Min Hee-jin's ongoing lawsuit

The formation of NewJeans involved a collaborative effort among HYBE Corporation's subsidiaries. Members such as Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, Hyein, and Minji were initially scouted and trained under Source Music's rigorous idol program.

In 2022, as part of an internal strategic decision, these trainees were transferred to ADOR, a newly established HYBE subsidiary led by Min Hee-jin. This transfer aimed to leverage Min Hee-jin's creative vision for the debut of a new girl group. Consequently, NewJeans debuted under ADOR in July 2022, quickly gaining popularity for their innovative concepts and musical style.

The legal dispute centers on allegations that Min Hee-jin, during her tenure as CEO of ADOR, engaged in unethical practices by recruiting trainees from Source Music without proper authorization. Source Music contended that this action violated internal agreements and compromised the company's investment in developing the trainees.

In response, Min Hee-jin denied these allegations, asserting that the transfer and debut of the Ditto girl group were conducted transparently and with the necessary approvals.

The dispute escalated when Source Music, alongside another HYBE subsidiary, Belift Lab, initiated legal proceedings against Min Hee-jin, accusing her of defamation and more. This was prompted by Min Hee-jin's allegations that Belift Lab copied her idea of creating NewJeans and debuted ILLIT in March 2024.

Both Belift Lab and Source Music's lawsuits against Min Hee-jin sought compensatory damages of 2 billion won (around $1.36 million) and 7 million won (around $1.36 million), respectively.

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Amidst the controversy, Min Hee-jin resigned from her position as ADOR's internal director after being dismissed as CEO in August 2024. She officially terminated her association with HYBE Corporation on November 20, 2024. In her resignation statement, she cited prolonged disputes with HYBE and its other subsidiaries.