SEOUL (ANN/THE KOREA HERALD) – On Wednesday, a group of NewJeans fans staged a protest outside the Seoul headquarters of K-pop powerhouse Hybe, using a “protest truck” to express their discontent with the chief of Hybe’s sub-label.
The demonstration marks an escalation in the ongoing conflict between NewJeans’ management and the parent company, as fans demand greater accountability and resolution.
The protest truck, adorned with signs and messages, serves as a public display of the fans’ grievances and their call for action amid rising tensions within the K-pop industry.
“Min Hee-jin should no longer use NewJeans and its family,” blared an electronic billboard mounted on the truck sent by the members of Bunnies, the group’s fandom.
Min is the CEO of ADOR.
Other messages repeatedly flashed included, “Min immediately stopped disparaging other artists” and “Bunnies support NewJeans under Hybe.”
Min has been locking horns with Hybe, claiming that ILLIT, a new girl group launched by another sub-label of Hybe last month, copied NewJeans, a product of her label’s creativity.
She raised the issue once again in a statement released Monday after Hybe launched an audit into her and her aides over their alleged attempt to seize management control of their company. She has denied the allegations.
Min officially responded to Hybe’s audit questionnaire Wednesday. Hybe declined to comment on the details of Min’s response, citing legal constraints.
NewJeans is scheduled to drop a new single titled “How Sweet” on May 24.
