On August 27th, ADOR, the subsidiary of HYBE Corporation responsible for managing the popular girl group New Jeans, announced a significant leadership change. Min Hee-jin, who has been leading the agency, has stepped down from her position as CEO. This decision was revealed during a board of directors meeting and marks a notable shift within the company.
Min Hee-jin's departure as CEO appears to be a result of ongoing corporate tensions. An internal audit initiated by HYBE in April suggested that Min Hee-jin and other executives were attempting to gain control over ADOR's management rights, straining their relationship with HYBE. Despite stepping down from her executive role, Min Hee-jin will continue as an inside director at ADOR and remain involved in producing New Jeans.
Kim Joo-young, an HR expert and the Chief Human Resources Officer at HYBE, has been appointed as the new CEO of ADOR. This change is part of HYBE's strategy to stabilize and reorganize ADOR's internal structure by separating management from production roles.
Min Hee-jin’s side has criticized the sudden nature of her dismissal, claiming it violated prior agreements. Although she will continue her role in New Jeans' production, the future of her involvement with ADOR remains uncertain.
The industry will be closely watching how ADOR evolves under Kim Joo-young’s leadership and how Min Hee-jin's continued role in shaping New Jeans' future develops.