SBS Issues Apology for Broadcasting NewJeans’ ‘ETA’ Performance on Inkigayo Amid KOCSC Legal Issues

On November 4, 2024, Hankyoreh reported that SBS is confronting legal repercussions for airing NewJeans’ performance of “ETA”during the show Inkigayo. The Korea Communications Standards Commission (KOCSC) has imposed a “legal sanction”on SBS, citing Article 46 of the Broadcast Review Regulations.

The controversy arose from a skit featured in NewJeans’ August 2023 performance, where members utilized an iPhone 14 Pro to film themselves, switching the primary camera feed to the phone. The KOCSC ruled this as a breach of regulations for covert advertising promotion.

Despite receiving numerous complaints from viewers following the broadcast, the KOCSC’s initial assessment showed minimal issue, with only one juror voting for a violation. However, in a surprising turn in November 2024, the panel reached a unanimous agreement to impose sanctions on SBS. A legal sanction, as defined by law, involves penalties or bans against individuals or organizations for legal breaches.

Park Sung-hoon, SBS’s entertainment CP, expressed regret over the incident during an interview with Hankyoreh: “We acknowledge it was our fault for broadcasting something akin to an advertisement.”

“As a result, it was our fault that we broadcasted something that was no different from an advertisement, and we reflect on it,”he stated. “Typically, when a singer’s performance is a product of their agency, we do not interfere.”

Further, Park remarked:

“At the time, NewJeans mentioned they would direct the performance with a music video concept, leading me to accept it without any concerns. I did not realize it would be presented as an advertisement.”

NewJeans and the Turmoil Surrounding HYBE and Min Hee-jin’s Dispute

NewJeans debuted in August 2022 under HYBE’s subsidiary, ADOR, led by CEO Min Hee-jin. The agency has recently been embroiled in legal disputes, particularly after HYBE filed a lawsuit against Min Hee-jin in April 2024, accusing her of attempting to undermine the parent company’s management and seizing control of ADOR alongside NewJeans.

As reported by Korea Joongang Daily, Min Hee-jin allegedly conspired with executives from Dunamu, a significant stakeholder in HYBE, to manipulate the company’s stock value. This resulted in additional investigations after informants revealed details of her meetings.

After demanding her resignation, HYBE convened an emergency shareholder meeting on May 30, 2024, to discuss her ousting. Although Min Hee-jin successfully obtained an injunction to preserve her position, HYBE replaced the ADOR board of directors on the same day.

Subsequent developments saw the ADOR board unanimously terminating Min Hee-jin from her CEO position and appointing Kim Joo-young as the new leader on August 27.

On September 11, NewJeans staged an unsanctioned YouTube livestream demanding Min Hee-jin’s reinstatement before September 25, which was removed the same day. Hanni from NewJeans expressed concerns about feeling unsafe and mistreated under the current management, alleging a HYBE manager instructed another artist to “ignore her.”

The turmoil escalated when Min Hee-jin filed yet another injunction lawsuit on September 13. An emergency shareholders’ meeting later rejected her reappointment on September 25.

In a subsequent meeting on October 17, ADOR appointed Min Hee-jin as an in-house director, limiting her role to overseeing and producing content for NewJeans for the remaining five years of their contract.

On October 29, Chosun Biz reported that a court hearing concluded with the rejection of Min Hee-jin’s request to reclaim the CEO position due to insufficient justification.

On November 5, 2024, HYBE’s CEO Lee Jae-sang addressed these ongoing disputes, affirming their commitment to support NewJeans and oversee the group’s future endeavors.

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