The curtain is up! The whole Kpop industry is witnessing the betrayal and controversy unfolding between ILLIT and NewJeans creators, HYBE Bang PD and ADOR CEO Min Heejin. But what really happened behind all the cases and issues? Here’s a complete summary for you!
The Betrayal and Controversy Between HYBE and ADOR CEO Min Heejin
The controversy between HYBE and ADOR CEO Min Heejin is rapidly escalating, unfolding the betrayal and drama involving ILLIT and NewJeans.
On April 22, HYBE announced to have used its role as the primary shareholder to audit ADOR and reportedly asked for the resignation of its CEO, Min Heejin.
According to HYBE, ADOR CEO Min Heejin had been trying to make ADOR a separate company and leave HYBE. The CEO, along with her deputies, had been consulting with external parties to overtake ADOR’s management rights from HYBE.
In the process, they leaked insider information, including HYBE x ADOR contract and artists’ private photos and images prior to their debut, to investment advisors and various financial consultant agencies. She then reportedly approached the parents of HYBE’s artists and manipulated the public to form negative opinions about the company.
Furthermore, HYBE accused ADOR CEO Min Heejin of using her influence over NewJeans, forcing the company to submit to her demands.
Not only that, but Dispatch also revealed that Min Heejin secretly wanted to take over ADOR and leave HYBE. In the process, she approached many HYBE insiders and gained HYBE’s sensitive, confidential information.
“CEO Min Heejin has actually been seeking independence for a long time. She has covertly approached insiders and looked for a way to buy HYBE’s shares in ADOR.
Moreover, Min Heejin had wrongfully obtained sensitive internal information about HYBE. She is also alleged to have used a HYBE employee to steal HYBE’s confidential information.”
Dispatch.
Meanwhile, HYBE had also gathered a lot of evidence against Min Heejin, including that she frequently abused her power against the employees. Even her former colleagues from SM Entertainment wished they would never work with her again.
ILLIT vs NewJeans: Betrayal and Controversy
On the other hand, ADOR CEO Min Heejin refuted the accusations, claiming that HYBE was the one who betrayed her instead.
Immediately after the accusation went public, Min Heejin officially stated that everything began after HYBE plagiarized NewJeans by debuting ILLIT.
“ILLIT copying NewJeans is not something that BeLift Lab did individually. Instead, everything was under HYBE’s support.
HYBE, claiming to be the leader of Kpop, was blinded by profits, and they are copying successful cultural content without any hesitation at all.
ADOR has never allowed anyone to copy NewJeans’ results.”
ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin.
Min Heejin also criticized HYBE and BeLift Lab for confidently owning ILLIT’s nickname to be NewJeans’ little sisters. They benefited from speculations that everything about ILLIT speaks NewJeans and Min Heejin, from concept, visual, and music. And even when public opinions formed that ILLIT plagiarized NewJeans, they did nothing.
Moreover, when Min Heejin made a complaint to HYBE, the company stood silent. The fact that HYBE’s Chairman, Bang Si Hyuk, was even involved in the creation of ILLIT angered Min Heejin more. She then accuses HYBE of destroying NewJeans’ achievements and legacy.
• Min Hee Jin says that Hybe attempts to destroy Ador and NewJeans' value and tarnish her good name
— paula⁷ (@sugatheartist) April 22, 2024
• Accusations of stealing from Hybe ridiculous and not true
• Ador will use legal ways to protect their group
• Wants Hybe and Belift to "acknowledge their mistakes"… pic.twitter.com/lxNyN0WyvE
Another “FIFTY FIFTY Incident”?
For now, HYBE has reportedly given time to ADOR CEO Min Heejin to respond to their request for a shareholder meeting, which will take place today on April 23.
However, public opinions have been divided, especially defending ILLIT and NewJeans, who got caught in the middle of the dispute. Many have publicly criticized CEO Min Heejin for ruining NewJeans future career by creating another “FIFTY FIFTY controversy” between ADOR and HYBE over ILLIT.
- “I also felt it was pretty similar.”
- “It was way too similar like they didn’t even care.”
- “If I didn’t know any better and heard their song playing, I’d think NewJeans was back! I even mistook them in photos. But something about it just doesn’t sit right.”
- “As someone who’s not really into K-Pop, they seem so alike that I was like, ‘What’s going on here?’ LOL.”
- “Save NewJeans. What’s this mess all about?”
- “Her argument doesn’t make any sense.”
- “‘Unfair treatment?’ That’s a joke. You’re actually getting the best treatment out of all the sub-labels.”
- “Seriously? They had all the perks of starting out in a big company. How can she be so oblivious?”
- “She’s just moving too fast and being greedy.”
- “I get why HYBE would pull out all the stops against them, even if it costs millions. They could actually hold them legally accountable and face serious consequences.”
- “Wow, she’s really crossed the line there.”
- “Manipulating public opinion against HYBE artists and even reaching out to their parents? That’s just low.”
- “This is totally a multi-million dollar lawsuit situation, and they might even consider jail time.”
- “It all feels too one-sided in the media. We need to hear her side of the story too.”
Finally, what do you think about this issue? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
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Source: Dispatch, Hankyung, Ilgan Sports.
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