Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin has rejected a contract from the company that would have kept her on as the producer for the popular K-pop group NewJeans. Min’s legal representatives have accused ADOR’s board of directors, which is largely composed of HYBE-appointed members, of unfairly dismissing her from the CEO position in violation of a shareholder agreement and court rulings.
According to Min’s statement, ADOR board chairman Kim Joo-young sent her a “Producing Commission Agreement” on August 28, just a day after the board unilaterally announced that Min would continue overseeing NewJeans’ production. However, Min claims this announcement was made without her consent and was a “one-sided media play”
Min’s legal team argues the contract contains numerous “unilateral and unreasonable” clauses that are difficult to accept from a common sense perspective. Key issues they have raised include:
Short Contract Period
The agreement specifies a contract period of only 2 months and 6 days, from August 27 to November 1, 2024. Min’s team points out this is an unreasonably short timeframe, especially considering NewJeans is planning a world tour in 2025. They argue this demonstrates ADOR’s lack of understanding of the industry’s core tasks.
Ability to Terminate at Any Time
The contract allows ADOR to immediately terminate the agreement if they deem Min’s work performance ability to be significantly lacking, with no objective criteria specified. It also permits termination if ADOR’s business circumstances make the contract difficult to maintain, or if ADOR’s CEO deems it necessary. In other words, ADOR (effectively HYBE) can end the contract at any time for any reason.
Contradictory Clauses
The contract contains contradictory clauses, such as allowing termination if Min’s management performance is deemed poor, even though she would only be a producer. It also imposes an excessively broad non-compete period of six times the length of the 2-month contract.
Min’s legal team argues the contract is intentionally designed to “induce producers to reject the contract” and set up another media play. They state Min has determined she cannot sign the agreement and is expressing her position in case further distorted articles are reported as a result.
Unlawful Dismissal as CEO
Min’s removal as ADOR CEO on August 27 was an “illegal decision that directly contradicts the shareholder agreement and the provisional injunction against the prohibition of exercising of voting rights,” according to her legal representatives. The shareholder agreement states HYBE should take necessary measures for Min to maintain her CEO and executive director positions for five years.
However, HYBE claims the shareholder agreement has been terminated, which Min’s team argues has no grounds as Min has not acknowledged such termination. They state the board’s decision also had issues with its procedural process, as ADOR’s articles of association require a one-week advance notice for board meetings, but this was amended to one day for the meeting that dismissed Min.
Min’s legal team emphasizes that she was dismissed against her will and did not resign voluntarily, contrary to reports. They accuse the board of misleading the public by distorting the facts.
NewJeans’ Success Under Min’s Leadership
Min Hee-jin is credited as the driving force behind NewJeans’ unprecedented success and industry recognition for their originality and distinctiveness. However, the unreasonable contract offer raises doubts about HYBE’s true intentions regarding her continued involvement with the group.
Min’s legal representatives conclude by reiterating that her dismissal as CEO violates the shareholder agreement and court rulings, and they strongly suspect ADOR’s board made preemptive moves to dismiss Min with the contract amendment. They state Min will not accept the “toxic” contract and are preparing for the possibility of further distorted media reports.
The legal battle between Min Hee-jin and HYBE over her removal as ADOR CEO and the terms of her potential continued involvement with NewJeans appears far from over. As one of the most influential figures in the K-pop industry, Min’s next moves will undoubtedly be closely watched by the entire K-entertainment world.