As Min Hee-jin, former CEO of ADOR, addressed allegations related to tampering at a press conference, what did she gain and lose?
Lawyer Kim Sun-woong of the law firm Jiam, who is representing Min Hee-jin in litigation, held an emergency press conference at a location in Jongno, Seoul, on the 28th and argued, "The substance of the allegations report called the 'NewJeans tampering,' which was triggered by reports in December 2024 and January 2025, is a nationwide fraud staged by the family of one NewJeans member and a certain businessperson who schemed an attempt by a specific corporation to boost or manipulate stock prices, and it is unrelated to former CEO Min Hee-jin."
According to Lawyer Kim Sun-woong, around June 2024 Min Hee-jin heard from the father of one NewJeans member that "your brother has wide connections, so if you entrust negotiations with HYBE he will do well," and thereafter an individual referred to as the member's "great-uncle" took the lead in negotiations. Min's side said that during this process specific corporation names began to be mentioned, and they partially released a recording in which Min said she had never heard of that corporation before.
Lawyer Kim said, "There is one reason why former CEO Min did not actively respond to the false reports of 'NewJeans tampering' concocted by one member's family and a certain businessperson and is revealing the truth only now," and added, "to protect the NewJeans members and their families." He went on to say, "Min worried that if it became known that one member's family colluded with a certain businessperson to use NewJeans and Min to boost stock prices and facilitate the sale of a specific corporation, it could create a negative image for the NewJeans members and cause conflict and division among the members." If one counts what she gained from this press conference, it is that she disclosed the 'truth' she had kept hidden from her perspective.
But conversely, having claimed the title of 'NewJeans mom' and vowed to protect the members against massive capital, when a huge damage claim hit her she redirected that arrow at a member's family, prompting reactions that the reputation the Min Hee-jin brand had built has crumbled.
First, she abandoned the role of 'NewJeans mom.' The reason Min did not attend a recent press conference after being deeply shocked upon learning the recent situation regarding a member's family—and was supported—was the sacrificial narrative that she cherished the members like her children and would serve as their shield. Through this, even amid a battle with HYBE, she could elicit petitions and support from NewJeans members and their parents. However, at this press conference she directly identified a member's blood relative as the main perpetrator of the fraud and rekindled negative issues for NewJeans, which was trying to start anew.
With the 'NewJeans mom' collapsed, her credibility as a K-pop producer also fell. Although Min had cemented an exceptional position through success at SM Entertainment and with NewJeans, this NewJeans scandal has created negative perceptions. In the producing field, where bonds with artists are essential, the most basic trust has evaporated.
Also, Min Hee-jin had long been praised for the distinctive 'Min Hee-jin sensibility,' emphasizing purity, nostalgia and naturalness. But as huge lawsuits and mudslinging exposés continued, keywords opposite to the Min Hee-jin sensibility were overlaid. A producer image that hinders public immersion can be a fatal flaw for a creator.
Until now, Min Hee-jin had been shaking public opinion and gaining support through emergency press conferences, but the prevailing analysis is that this press conference cost her more than it gained. She may have sought a pretext to reduce some legal responsibility, but the 'mom' who had a tender relationship with the public, fandom and the artist NewJeans has disappeared, leaving only 'former CEO Min Hee-jin.'
Meanwhile, ADOR said of Min Hee-jin's press conference, "If there are claims, they can be argued in court." ADOR has currently filed a damage claim lawsuit seeking about 43.1 billion won in damages against Danielle and one member of Danielle's family and former CEO Min Hee-jin.
[OSEN]