South Korean music executive Min Hee-jin will step down as the CEO of K-pop agency ADOR, home to girl group NewJeans.
According to news reports today (August 27) by South Korean media – including Korea JoongAng Daily, Yonhap News Agency and Hankook Ilbo – ADOR announced in a statement that Min Hee-jin will step down as the K-pop agency’s CEO.
Min, who has been in a protracted feud with HYBE over control of ADOR in the past several months, will reportedly keep her position on the K-pop agency’s board of director. Additionally, the music executive will also continue to produce music for NewJeans.
Per Yonhap, Min’s resignation was announced during an ADOR board meeting today. During the same meeting, Kim Ju-young, who is a director of the board, will be the new CEO of the K-pop agency. Notably, ADOR is majority owned by HYBE.
In a statement to Korea JoongAng Daily, ADOR said that Min being in change of both the management of the label as well as the production of NewJeans was “the only exception among all the HYBE labels”. It added that it promises to “provide the best support for the success of NewJeans with this change in structure”.
The feud between Min and HYBE had notably cooled off over the past two months, after a court ruled in favour of the music executive’s injunction to prevent HYBE from exercising its voting rights at a then-upcoming shareholder meeting on May 30.
Min subsequently retained her role as the CEO of ADOR following a board meeting on May 31. However, two of her “close aides” were reportedly dismissed and replaced by three C-suite executives officials from HYBE.
On the same day, Min held a press conference where she addressed her feud with HYBE, saying that she feels she “didn’t create this fight, from my perspective”. She added: “I think I felt that betrayal first, and HYBE broke that trust first.”
Since then, Min has been questioned by South Korean police over the breach of trust allegations levied against her by HYBE. Following the session, the music executive told press that she was “glad to tell the truth” and that there was “a lot” she wanted to say.
Min has also since been sued by K-pop agency Source Music, a subsidiary of HYBE, which also owns the majority of ADOR. Source Music is seeking KRW500million (roughly US$360,000) in damages for defamation and interfering with business.