“NewJeans Deserves Better”: Fans Express Outrage Over Girl Group’s Exclusion from HYBE’s Q4 Plans Amid Min Hee-jin Controversy

On October 14, 2024, HYBE unveiled an anticipated Key Schedule detailing the activities planned for all its K-pop groups this year, specifically focusing on the final quarter (October to December). Notably absent from these projections was NewJeans, raising eyebrows amid the ongoing tensions between HYBE and ADOR’s CEO, Min Hee-jin.

The schedule, structured to highlight each quarter, showcased NewJeans’ active engagement in Q2, where they released their Korean EP, How Sweet, on May 24, followed by their Japanese debut EP, Supernatural, on June 21. Also, the group held their inaugural fan event in Japan, called ‘Bunnies Camp 2024 Tokyo Dome,’ allowing them to connect with fans from June 26 to June 27.

During Q3 (July to September), NewJeans made a memorable appearance, performing at halftime during the 2024 Coupang Play Series football match featuring FC Bayern Munich versus Tottenham Hotspur on August 3 at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Additionally, plans announced in early Q2 hinted at a forthcoming album release for NewJeans in Q4. This was also shared during their fan meeting at the Tokyo Dome. Enthusiastic fans, known as Bunnies, were left disheartened by the absence of further updates in the recent schedule.

In a statement reported by TheQoo, Min Hee-jin discussed in a September 26 interview with JoongAng Ilbo that developments on the group’s new album had likely stalled due to the ongoing legal disputes with HYBE. He expressed:

“There was a significant setback. I was dismissed while organizing a surprise fan meeting intended for our Korean audience. The vice presidents were also abruptly removed from their roles. Consequently, work on the next album has ceased. It’s unfortunate and reflects Hive’s interference with New Jeans.”(translated from TheQoo’s article)

One fan took to X to express frustration, stating that the group “deserves better.”

“newjeans deserves better”

Fan support for NewJeans on X (Image via X/suzybwoo)

Numerous fans voiced their disappointment online, with many conveying sympathy for NewJeans.

“newjeans i’m so sorry,”wrote a user.

“No way they aren’t releasing this year,”commented another.

“nj1 just disappear,”added another user.

Further fan discussions highlighted their dissatisfaction with NewJeans’ apparent omission from HYBE’s Q4 strategy:

“This is upsetting.”expressed another fan.

“njs being blank,”noted another comment.

Following their successful music releases earlier in the year, where Supernatural quickly topped Japan’s Oricon and Line Music charts, and with their fan event in Japan seeing sold-out attendance on both days, fans anticipated a new album to close out the year.

Updates on HYBE’s ongoing issues with NewJeans

On September 11, 2024, members of NewJeans participated in a YouTube livestream from a new channel, which was promptly taken down. In the session titled “What NewJeans Want To Say,”they took the opportunity to assert their stance against HYBE and expressed their frustration concerning Min Hee-jin’s resignation.

During the 30-minute livestream, Hanni spoke out about her alleged experiences of discrimination from a HYBE official.

The 20-year-old shared an incident in which a HYBE manager instructed a team member to disregard her. When she reported this to the current CEO, Kim Ju-young, it was reportedly dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Hanni remarked on feeling unfairly portrayed as dishonest in the process.

As of October 14, Hanni is set to testify at the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee meeting on October 15 concerning the bullying allegations directed at HYBE.

On October 9, she informed fans about her intention to attend the National Assembly independently, stating that it was a decision made for her fandom, her group, and herself. She expressed:

“Ah… Bunnies, and!! I’ve made a decision!! I’m going to the National Assembly! A state audit! I’m going to do it on my own! So don’t worry!! I’m doing this for myself, for the members, and for Bunnies too!”(translated via X/nwjnsint)

Meanwhile, the recent categorization of HYBE as the ‘2024 Korea Top Job Creation Company’ by the Ministry of Employment and Labor will likely be scrutinized during the audit. Despite the ministry praising HYBE for fostering “horizontal communication,”this acknowledgment now feels contradictory due to the accusations of bullying involving NewJeans.

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