Min Hee-Jin resigns

Photo Credit: Min Hee-Jin for 티비텐 (TV10) / CC by 3.0

Min Hee-Jin resigns from ADOR after a seven month ugly battle with parent company Hybe.

It’s been a long seven months for former ADOR CEO Min Hee-Jin and her internal battle with K-pop entertainment conglomerate Hybe, but Min is officially announcing her resignation from the company.

Min Hee-Jin joined Hybe in 2019 as a brand officer before being appointed CEO of the newly created label ADOR in 2021. There, she oversaw the debut of the chart-topping girl group NewJeans in the summer of 2022.

But this past spring, Hybe announced an internal audit into Min with public allegations that she and her team attempted to take full control of ADOR, calling for her resignation. Min refuted the claims against her and said their accusations were retribution for whistleblowing and internal complaints.

Then came several months of multiple lawsuits, with previous shareholders in ADOR being dismissed, and Min being similarly dismissed as CEO in August. After the Seoul Central District Court rejected Min’s injunction calling for her reinstatement, Min announced her intentions to leave her internal director position at Hybe altogether.

Min’s letter of resignation promises to “hold Hybe legally accountable for violating the shareholders’ agreement,” and take “necessary legal actions one by one against the numerous illegal activities of Hybe and its associates.” She concluded she will continue in the K-pop industry, adding, “I hope you will show great interest in the new K-pop journey I will embark on in the future.”

“For the past seven months, I have fought with all my mental, economic, and physical strength to reclaim ADOR, which was damaged due to Hybe’s serious violation of the shareholders’ agreement,” wrote Min. “Hybe’s moral hazard has already reached its peak, and although their dirty media play will likely continue, I’m not worried, as most people have now reached the point where they can read through the pattern.”

“Nevertheless, I want to make it clear that if there are forces and media outlets trying to maliciously defame me, I will not stand idly by and will punish them legally,” she continued. “While this unprecedented incident is not over yet, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Bunnies [NewJeans fandom] and many others who have tirelessly sent support and encouragement for nearly half a year.”

“I conclude this message with a sense of relief, addressing these words to certain individuals: the actions driven by one person’s malice should never be allowed to damage the ‘essence of the business.’ That was […] cruel of you all.”

Hybe has not yet responded to Min’s statement.