K-pop group NewJeans has sent an official document to their agency ADOR, demanding the return of former CEO Min Hee-jin. The girl group has given the agency a strict ultimatum: if their requests are not met, they will terminate their exclusive contract.
The conflict, which first surfaced in April over allegations of "management rights hijacking" involving Min Hee-jin, has now escalated to a crucial stage. NewJeans' representatives indicated that if the issues surrounding the group are not addressed, they will be forced to sever ties with ADOR.
According to industry sources, the document sent on November 13th outlines several grievances. One notable concern is a controversial internal document from HYBE, which was revealed during a recent government audit. The document contained a troubling statement about NewJeans: "If we get tired of NewJeans, we can replace them and reframe the situation."
In their letter, NewJeans demanded that ADOR take immediate action to address this issue, accusing the agency of failing to manage the situation appropriately. Additionally, the letter seeks clarification on who made the decision to "abandon" NewJeans and instructed others to act on it, with a call for investigations into any possible violations of the law, including embezzlement or breach of trust.
The group also listed several other grievances, including an incident where a manager allegedly insulted member Hanni, as well as the ongoing dispute with director Shin Woo-seok of the "Dolphin Kidnapping" incident. These disputes, which have been ongoing since April, are now central to NewJeans' demand for corrective action.
The members of NewJeans have set a 14-day deadline for ADOR to address these issues. If the agency does not respond satisfactorily within that time frame, the group has vowed to terminate their contract.
ADOR, on the other hand, has responded by stating that they have not yet received the document and are unable to provide a response at this time.
As the situation continues to unfold, the K-pop industry is closely watching the potential impact on both NewJeans' future and the reputation of ADOR.