(ANN/KOREA HERALD) – In the ongoing dispute between K-pop powerhouse Hybe Entertainment and Min Hee-jin, CEO of its sublabel Ador, public sentiment appears to be shifting in favor of Min following her emotional press conference on Thursday.
During the conference, she asserted her commitment to the success of NewJeans, the popular K-pop girl group she produced.
Min’s response to Hybe’s allegations of attempted takeover of Ador garnered significant public attention, coinciding with the release of NewJeans’ new single “Bubble Gum.”
The music video for “Bubble Gum” quickly amassed over 10 million views within a day of its Saturday release, drawing predominantly Korean-language comments expressing support for NewJeans and Min.
Fans praised NewJeans as “the pride of K-pop,” acknowledging their unique qualities and Min’s exceptional talent and dedication to the group.
Hybe initially refrained from directly addressing Min’s statements, citing “false information” in her claims. However, a subsequent press release from Hybe, hastily drafted and riddled with grammatical errors, challenged Min’s assertions.
Meanwhile, Hybe initiated proceedings for an extraordinary general meeting to seek Min’s resignation, a process that could span approximately two months. This followed Min’s notification to Hybe on Monday that Ador’s board of directors would not comply with Hybe’s request for a shareholders’ meeting on Tuesday.
Industry insiders speculate on Min’s future with Hybe, suggesting that her public disclosures during the press conference may hinder further collaboration. The fate of NewJeans now rests with the group members and their parents, who must decide whether to remain with Hybe or follow Min.
Music critic Lim Hee-yoon emphasised the importance of a harmonious multilabel system, likening it to a palette of diverse colors. However, she criticised Hybe’s current structure as fostering internal competition among sublabels, potentially impacting its artists negatively in the long term.
