HYBE, Min Hee-jin mired in power struggle over NewJeans’ label ADOR

A struggle for dominance looms over HYBE and ADOR as the latter’s CEO is reportedly attempting a takeover of the sub-label. Images: Courtesy of HYBE, ADOR

K-pop giant HYBE and its sub-label All Doors One Room (ADOR) find themselves in a power struggle, following reports of ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin attempting to take control of NewJeans’ agency.

This comes after the conglomerate confirmed to Korean media on Monday, April 22, that an audit of ADOR’s management was initiated, with additional reports pointing to the K-pop giant calling for Min to step down as CEO.

ADOR is a HYBE sub-label that was founded by Min in 2021 and is currently the agency of “Hype Boy” hitmakers NewJeans. As of press time, the conglomerate owns 80 percent of ADOR’s stake, while the remaining shares are owned by Min and its management.

Min is a well-known figure among K-pop circles, as she’s the creative director behind SM Entertainment groups Girls’ Generation, SHINee, f(x), EXO, and Red Velvet. She left SM in 2018 and joined HYBE a year later.

With no concept teasers, the Min-produced quintet NewJeans debuted in July 2022 with the single “Attention.” The girl group is composed of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein.

ADOR accuses ILLIT of ‘copying’ NewJeans

Following the confirmation of its parent company, ADOR fired back against HYBE and accused the corporation of “copying NewJeans” through the newly debuted girl group ILLIT.

“ADOR is publicly addressing the incident of ILLIT copying NewJeans to protect our artist NewJeans and for the healthy development of the music industry and culture in Korea,” its statement read, per a Soompi translation.

“After ILLIT’s teasers were released, reactions spread online saying, ‘I thought it was NewJeans.’ ILLIT is copying NewJeans in all aspects of entertainment activities including hair, makeup, clothing, choreography, photos, videos, and appearances,” ADOR continued. “ILLIT is being assessed as being ‘Min Hee-jin style,’ ‘Min Hee-jin type,’ and ‘an imitation of NewJeans.’ It’s a truly shameful situation.”

ILLIT, consisting of members Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee, and Iroha, debuted in March 2024 with their first EP “Super Real Me.” The female quintet is managed by another HYBE sub-label, Belift Lab.

READ: ILLIT brings ‘positive energy’ with own brand of music

ADOR also pointed out that Min filed a complaint against HYBE and Belift Lab, but both labels “didn’t admit their wrongdoings, were busy making excuses, and delayed concrete answers.”

“The copying of NewJeans by ILLIT was not done independently by Belift Lab but also involves HYBE. HYBE, a leading company in K-pop, is blinded by short-term profits and is mass-producing unoriginality by copying successful cultural content without hesitation,” its statement added.

Min also denied a takeover of ADOR in the statement, while hoping that HYBE and Belift Lab will “take accountability.”

HYBE vs ADOR

On Tuesday, April 23, Korean media outlet Segye Ilbo reported that Min allegedly planned to “ultimately leave HYBE” and gain autonomy over the label, although it has yet to disclose how it obtained the reports.

Both labels, however, have yet to comment on the reports, as of this writing.

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