NewJeans’ MV Director Sues ADOR Executives for Defamation Over Controversial Recording Disclosures

On November 8, 2024, SPOTV News revealed that Shin Woo-seok, the director behind NewJeans‘ music videos, has initiated legal action against Kim Joo-young, CEO of ADOR, and Vice President Lee Do-kyung. The lawsuit is based on allegations of breaching the Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection Act, specifically regarding defamation.

Shin contends that the executives from ADOR insisted he remove the ‘Ditto’, ‘ETA’, and ‘OMG’ music videos from his personal YouTube channel, known as Ban Heesoo. Following the dismissal of Min Hee-jin, the previous CEO of ADOR, the new management team requested that Shin take down these videos, which include ‘Director’s cut’ versions.

“I will sequentially submit or disclose the recordings, emails, and materials as necessary, and sue CEO Kim Joo-young and Vice President Lee Do-kyung for defamation,”stated Shin Woo-seok.

SPOTV News also noted that ADOR previously clarified that the removal of Shin’s ‘Director’s cut’ videos for ‘NewJeans’ was a response to complaints from YouTube and advertisers regarding copyright infringement.

It is crucial to understand that all labels affiliated with HYBE release their video content through HYBE Labels’ official YouTube channel, in addition to their own channels, such as BELIFT LAB and Pledis Entertainment. Thus, the publication of NewJeans’ director’s cut videos on an unofficial third-party YouTube channel constitutes a copyright violation.

Ongoing Tensions: HYBE’s Disputes with Min Hee-jin and Recent Leaks

The conflict between HYBE and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin dates back to April 2024, when allegations surfaced that she was attempting to overthrow the label. By August 2024, the ADOR board of directors terminated Min, appointing Kim Joo-young as her successor.

The dispute escalated on September 3, 2024, when the music video director accused the new leadership of pressuring him to erase the extended versions of NewJeans’ videos from his personal YouTube channel and his social media platform, Dolphin Kidnapping. The issue gained media traction following coverage by Korea JoongAng Daily.

“The director’s cut of the ‘ETA’ music video posted by Dolphin Kidnapping contains elements that were previously disputed with advertisers. This video was uploaded without the advertiser’s permission. ADOR requested the removal of this video only,”clarified the label.

“Shin Woo-seok, director of Dolphin Kidnapping, is inaccurately alleging that ADOR demanded the deletion of all content related to NewJeans, including that on the Ban Heesoo channel. [We will] ensure the previously deleted content can be uploaded to ADOR’s official channel in the future,”ADOR added.

As HYBE grapples with its internal conflicts, another layer of controversy emerged following the leak of an extensive 18,000-page internal report during a National Assembly Audit on October 24. This document allegedly contained inappropriate remarks regarding various rival K-pop groups, including SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and YG Entertainment.

The report purportedly included inappropriate comments about artists such as Stray Kids’ Changbin, EXO’s Baekhyun, and notably criticized BLACKPINK’s Lisa regarding her image post-performance at the ‘Crazy Horse’ show in Paris in September 2023.

“Her public image collapsed after the ‘Crazy Horse Show’ in Paris. While she may have intended to convey an empowering message through her performance, it appears she misjudged the implications of participating in a burlesque show instead of conveying empowerment through a more broadly relevant artistic platform,”the report allegedly stated.

In light of these contentious developments, over 47,000 individuals have signed a petition urging the South Korean National Assembly to revoke HYBE’s ‘Top Company’ status amidst escalating public discontent.

Source & Images