Netizens Express Outrage Over HYBE’s Alleged Deletion of NewJeans’ Request Response Report

On September 23, 2024, HYBE reportedly issued a statement regarding individual responses to the members of NewJeans concerning Min Hee-jin’s reappointment as CEO of ADOR. This news was initially reported by the South Korean media outlet Ten Asia but was allegedly removed from NAVER, a popular Korean online search engine, within hours.

For those unfamiliar, on September 11, 2024, NewJeans conducted an unauthorized YouTube livestream, urging HYBE to reinstate Min Hee-jin as the CEO of ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE Corporation.

In reaction to the group’s requests, HYBE purportedly stated that it would “deliver”responses to each member individually. Ten Asia’s now-deleted article claimed that HYBE announced:

“We will deliver our response to NewJeans’ request to each member on the 25th. The specific details of the response will not be disclosed.”While discussions continue regarding whether the response will be made public, it appears that HYBE wishes to prevent the situation from escalating.”

HYBE allegedly got the Ten Asia news article deleted from NAVER. (Image via screenshot/Ten Asia)

Fans of NewJeans expressed their frustration towards HYBE, accusing the company of alleged media manipulation. Many speculated that the parent organization might propose different terms to the members, potentially creating discord within the group. One fan shared their thoughts on X:

“Delivering a response to each member already seems suspicious. Different messages or proposals for each member? Why the need for separate deliveries? Trust in this company has eroded.”

Others voiced their disappointment over the alleged deletion of the news article.

“It feels absurd, like they are hiding something, as if they are criminals,”one fan remarked.

“This shows how HYBE manipulates the media; they publish and delete articles at will,”another fan retorted.

“HYBE reminds me of my past days when I impulsively made decisions and later apologized for my responses that didn’t align with my intended outcomes,”another fan shared.

Meanwhile, fans speculated on potential strategies that HYBE may employ to counter the girl group’s demands linked to Min Hee-jin.

“The notion of responses being delivered individually on the 25th raises concerns for me; it suggests they may try to create discord with different proposals for each member,”one fan noted.

“Even if the responses to members are kept private, how can the repercussions of those responses remain confidential? The nature of the response will inevitably come to light through its outcomes,”another fan stated.

“It seems they want to keep their response private to manipulate the narrative that they attempted to satisfy NewJeans’ demands while claiming the group escalated the situation when they ultimately proceed with legal actions and request contract termination. They will spin the narrative heavily,”a fan commented.

Why Did NewJeans Demand Min Hee-jin’s Reinstatement? Former ADOR CEO Files Another Injunction

On August 27, 2024, ADOR’s board of directors removed Min Hee-jin from her executive role, appointing Kim Joo-young as the new CEO. Min Hee-jin was sent a renewed contract for the period of September to November 2024, outlining her new position as ADOR’s in-house creative director for NewJeans.

This contract required her to produce content for the girl group; however, if she did not deliver results by November 2024, her contract would be terminated. Consequently, she declined to sign the contract and demanded to be reinstated as ADOR’s CEO.

On September 13, she filed an injunction in the Seoul Central District Court for a breach of contract. The injunction aimed to convene an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders to facilitate her reappointment as ADOR’s CEO.

This legal action was initiated following NewJeans’ YouTube livestream, where the members expressed feeling unsafe under the new management. Billboard reported that during the livestream, the five members voiced their worries about their future in the industry and recounted experiences of alleged mistreatment, particularly highlighting an incident involving Hanni.

According to a translation by Allkpop, Hanni stated:

“There are hair and makeup rooms on the 4th floor, frequently used by other artists and staff. I was alone in the hallway when a group and their manager passed by. After greeting each other, the manager later told their group, ‘Ignore her,’ right in front of me.”

Hanni further asserted that under Min Hee-jin’s direction, ADOR operated in “harmony.”

“The previous management style was seamless, with business operations and creative production working together. It was our way of operating, reflecting our CEO’s vision in producing NewJeans’ content, which many fans enjoyed,”she shared.

In another update, NewJeans’ Hanni made a notable appearance at Milan Fashion Week on September 20 as Gucci Beauty’s brand ambassador.

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