ENTERTAINMENT
Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin's Controversial Moves Amidst Legal Battle with NewJeans
Lee Min-kyung from TenAsia sounds the alarm on the rapidly evolving entertainment industry, highlighting unseen issues and alerting to threats and changes surrounding the entertainment world.
Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of ADOR, who once claimed to be the 'NewJeans Mom,' is now taking a harsh stance against the group. At a crucial time when the members are trying to recover and resume activities, she has suddenly brought up 'tampering allegations' and announced a press conference. Analysts suggest this is an attempt to sway public opinion as she faces unfavorable circumstances in court.
Kim Sun-woong, a lawyer from Sejong Law Firm representing Min, announced a public press conference regarding the 'NewJeans tampering allegations' to be held at 1 PM on the 28th in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The atmosphere seemed rushed, as Min's attendance was not confirmed even by 10 AM on the day of the conference.
The industry has reacted with surprise to this move. Last October, NewJeans members lost a lawsuit confirming the validity of their exclusive contract with ADOR. Since then, except for Danielle and Minji, the members have returned to ADOR. Danielle is unable to return, and Minji has not yet decided her course. In this chaotic situation, Min's sudden public opinion battle has led to unwanted image consumption for NewJeans.
When asked about the purpose of the press conference at this time, Kim stated, "It is important to clarify the tampering allegations during the ongoing damages lawsuit against ADOR," adding, "There is a need to share newly discovered truths with the public." This reveals an intention to engage in a public opinion battle rather than resolving the issue in court. As a result, the three NewJeans members who have confirmed their return may find it difficult to escape the ongoing controversy. This is not the behavior expected from someone who claimed to be a mother figure. Currently, Min is pursuing a damages lawsuit against ADOR, alongside Danielle and her family, amounting to 43.09 billion won.
NewJeans has already been excessively consumed in court, in the National Assembly (during audits), and through various news outlets. Their public popularity is now waning. If Min truly cared for NewJeans, she would calmly follow legal procedures and accept the outcomes, rather than fueling controversy in public. This could lead to misunderstandings that she is trying to pressure the court through public appeals.
Lee Min-kyung, TenAsia Reporter 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr
