On August 27, ADOR revealed that Min Hee Jin would resign from her role as CEO but would remain involved in producing New Jeans‘ content as an internal director. However, in a surprise YouTube live broadcast on September 11, the five New Jeans members voiced their discontent with this decision, calling for Min Hee Jin to be reinstated as CEO by September 25.
The K-pop world is currently engulfed in controversy as members of the popular group NewJeans have expressed their support for the reinstatement of Min Hee-jin as their CEO, despite rising accusations against her, labeling her as a “groomer.” This unexpected move has ignited intense debate among fans and the broader online community, with opinions sharply divided on whether Min Hee-jin, the creative force behind New Jeans, should return to her leadership role at ADOR.
New Jeans’ fans and industry insiders have long praised Min Hee-jin for her artistic vision, which has been instrumental in defining the group’s distinctive style and contributing to their rapid rise to fame. During a recent livestream, NewJeans member Danielle emphasized Min Hee-jin’s crucial role in their success, saying, “NewJeans has a distinct color and tone, and this was created with Min Hee-jin. She is irreplaceable.”
“We prepared this live broadcast because the five of us have something we really want to say,” Hyein stated. She explained that the group had already met with management but felt their concerns were not properly communicated. Danielle echoed this sentiment, adding, “With CEO Min Hee Jin, we were able to prepare each task sincerely. She’s integral to New Jeans’ identity, and we all feel she is irreplaceable.”
The members shared personal stories, such as Hanni recounting a negative experience with another group’s manager and feeling unsupported by the new CEO. “We had lost our protector,” she remarked. Minji added, “The separation of production and management is not how we’ve worked before, and it’s affecting us.”
However, not everyone agrees with this perspective. Critics argue that the CEO’s alleged grooming and controlling behaviour, particularly towards the younger members of the group, is deeply concerning. Some fans have expressed worries that New Jeans may be under pressure to defend Min Hee-jin, highlighting the toxic environments that can sometimes be found in K-pop companies. “Underage girls are forced to defend their toxic CEO… it’s disturbing,” one Twitter user commented, capturing the growing unease among a significant segment of the fanbase.
On the other hand, supporters of Min Hee-jin argue that her creative talents are unmatched and that HYBE is exaggerating the allegations against her. “Min Hee-jin’s artistic management is extraordinary,” one supporter remarked. “She’s the core of NewJeans, and they understand that.”
Tensions have escalated further with reports of internal conflicts at the company, including data leaks and disputes between New Jeans and other HYBE executives. The fanbase is now more divided than ever, with some calling for Min Hee-jin’s return to restore stability, while others insist she must be held accountable for the ongoing controversies.
