Company Executive Confirms Talks on Poaching NewJeans with Former Ador CEO Min Hee Jin

New Allegations Surface Against Former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin

Recent claims have emerged against Min Hee Jin, the former CEO of ADOR, alleging her involvement in attempted poaching related to the popular girl group NewJeans. The accusations come from Park Jung Kyu, the chairman of Davolink, a company specializing in networking terminal equipment.

Details of the Allegations

According to Park, Min Hee Jin approached him during a meeting last September to explore potential investments aimed at establishing a new entertainment venture. Park reported that their discussion lasted three hours and centered around investment strategies specifically focused on NewJeans.

“I was shocked to hear that she claimed never to have met any investors or discussed investments. Min Hee-jin is lying,”Park stated in an interview with TenAsia.

Earlier this year, Min was accused by a notable entertainment figure of attempting to gain control over NewJeans, and later of “tampering”with the group. HYBE, Min’s former employer, alleged that she engaged a third-party investor inappropriately, which resulted in her dismissal as ADOR’s CEO in late August.

Investment Proposals and Rejection

Park recounted that he was introduced to Min through an acquaintance—reportedly a relative of a NewJeans member. In August, Min allegedly proposed a 5 million won (~$3.43 million) investment in NewJeans, but Park turned it down, citing concerns over potential risks.

Instead, he suggested an alternative: Min could secure management rights over Davolink, facilitated by the NewJeans relative, who would acquire the company under his name. This strategy was aimed at allowing Park to benefit financially while mitigating risk.

“The next day, I proposed structuring a deal to acquire my company, Davolink, instead. It was a business decision to ensure my own profit,”he explained to TenAsia.

Denials and Counterclaims

In November, Min publicly denied Park’s allegations, maintaining that she had not engaged with external parties or sought to manipulate the dynamics with NewJeans. However, Park contested her claims, asserting that he even overheard her discussing their meetings over the phone.

“I’m sure Min knew what was being discussed,”Park remarked. “I even heard her on the phone, asking if the discussion went well.”

Potential Legal Implications

If proven accurate, these allegations could result in significant legal ramifications for Min Hee Jin, especially concerning corporate governance violations during her leadership at ADOR. Park accused her of tarnishing his reputation and asserted that after her public denials, he was unfairly labeled as untruthful, which negatively impacted Davolink’s stock performance.

Adding to the controversy, HYBE has previously lodged a formal complaint against Min for breach of duty, suggesting that she engaged in attempts to poach NewJeans while they were still bound by contracts with other agencies, including discussions conducted via a mobile messaging app.

Conclusion

Park concluded that their meetings were fundamentally about discussing the transfer of Davolink’s ownership and securing the necessary funding. He further alleged that Min indicated an intent to take NewJeans with her to her proposed new venture while expressing discontent with HYBE’s Chairman, Bang Si Hyuk, whom she referred to derogatorily.

Ultimately, Park suggested that the initial negotiations fell through due to differing opinions on how the investment structure should be arranged.

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