SEOUL (ANN/THE KOREA HERALD) – K-pop powerhouse Hybe has launched an audit of its subsidiary Ador, known for producing the popular girl group NewJeans, following allegations that Ador’s CEO, Min Hee-jin, attempted a sub-label takeover.
This unprecedented move has drawn significant attention, as Hybe oversees multiple K-pop labels, but has never taken such action against one of its subsidiaries before.
Min Hee-jin, also the producer behind NewJeans, firmly denies the claims.
She contends that the audit and allegations emerged after she criticised Hybe for the perceived similarity between NewJeans and Illit, a new K-pop girl group that debuted last month under Belift Lab, another Hybe subsidiary.
The similarities in Illit and NewJean’s concepts and portions of their music videos have not gone unnoticed by the public, who have posted their observations online.
Hybe founder and Chairman Bang Si-hyuk took part in putting together Illit as well as composing the lead track of the group’s debut album, “Super Real Me.”
“Illit’s imitation of NewJeans is not something that the label called Belift Lab did alone. Rather, Hybe took part in it,” Min said in a press statement released Monday.
Min claims that Hybe informed her that she would be suspended and dismissed from the CEO position when she asked for an explanation from Hybe and Belift Lab concerning the alleged imitation as well as actions to correct it.
“We sent an official letter to Hybe and Belift Lab asking them to explain their position on plagiarism that has infringed on the brand value of NewJeans. Hybe, instead of explaining their position, decided to suddenly notify me of the suspension and dismissal process,” Min said.
According to industry sources, Hybe initiated an audit of Ador’s CEO and executives on Monday by seizing the firm’s computers and securing in-person statements from Ador employees.
“We’ve initiated an audit as we suspect Ador executives of trying to take control of Ador,” an official from Hybe said.
Hybe suspects Min and another Ador executive of having leaked confidential Hybe documents in an attempt to attract investment and having discussed ways to lure Hybe into selling its share in Ador.
Currently, Hybe holds an 80 per cent stake in Ador, while Ador’s CEO Min and other executives hold the remaining 20 per cent.
Min was a renowned K-pop idol producer at SM Entertainment before joining Hybe as chief brand officer in 2019. She had been in charge of creating the concepts for successful groups including Girls’ Generation, Shinee and Exo at SM.
After establishing Ador in November 2021, Min was put in charge of branding and designing the interior of Hybe’s headquarters in Seoul.
“We will do whatever we can to protect NewJeans’ achievement and to prevent further infringement of NewJeans IP (intellectual property) caused by plagiarism,” said Min.
Meanwhile, NewJeans fans have expressed concerns that the conflict between Hybe and Ador executives could influence the girl group’s release schedule. NewJeans is due to release a new single album next month as well as the music video for “Bubble Gum” from the upcoming album.
