Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin forcefully pushed back against the so-called "NewJeans tampering" allegation that she tried to siphon NewJeans to another company while their exclusive contract remained in effect, calling it "a nationwide scam carried out by a family member of one NewJeans member and a certain businessperson."
Attorney Kim Sun-woong of law firm Jiam, legal counsel for the former CEO, said at a public press conference regarding the "NewJeans tampering allegation" held on the 28th at Challenge Hall in the Kyowon Tour Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, "This allegation has nothing to do with Min Hee-jin," adding, "It is a nationwide scam colluded in by a family member of one NewJeans member and a certain businessperson." Min did not appear that day.
Regarding Min's absence, Kim said, "Because the matter involves sensitive issues related to the families of NewJeans members, it is difficult for her to speak directly," adding, "She heard recent information related to family relationships and was considerably shocked, making it hard to attend the press conference."
According to Kim, on Dec. 30 last year Min received a damages complaint from ADOR seeking 10 billion won, alleging she led the termination of NewJeans' exclusive contract and, through tampering, extracted NewJeans, thereby infringing ADOR's claims.
Min's side argued that there was a problem with the very background in which the tampering allegation was raised. Kim said, "Min judged that her relationship with HYBE–ADOR had already been settled and that all NewJeans members were returning, and that everyone could simply do their best in their respective positions for NewJeans' future."
However, "ADOR notified only Danielle among the NewJeans members of the termination of her exclusive contract, effectively taking a step that could lead to the team's disbandment, and in the lawsuit between Min and HYBE, situations in which members' families are mentioned keep recurring," adding, "For this reason, out of concern over the possibility of NewJeans disbanding, we are stating a minimal position."
Min's side again emphasized that the substance of this tampering allegation is unrelated to her. Kim argued, "The essence of reports on 'Min Hee-jin's NewJeans tampering' raised in 2024 and 2025 is not the former CEO, but circumstances suggesting that a family member of one NewJeans member and a certain businessperson attempted stock-price boosting or market manipulation."
He went on, "With the help of specialized attorneys, Min recently came to recognize that the tampering allegation raised by HYBE's management and major shareholders and some media may in fact involve forces disrupting the capital market," adding, "We have obtained materials showing related circumstances." He also asserted, "In this process, Min and the NewJeans members may actually have been used."
The "NewJeans tampering" allegation surrounding former CEO Min Hee-jin first surfaced in April 2024, when HYBE began an audit of Min. At the time, HYBE claimed Min attempted to seize control of ADOR's management, and about four months later Min was dismissed from the ADOR CEO post.
Afterward, the NewJeans members declared the termination of their exclusive contracts, saying the relationship of trust with ADOR had collapsed, but the court determined the exclusive contracts were still valid. As a result, Haerin and Hye-in returned to ADOR, and Hanni also chose to return. Min-ji is said to be continuing talks with ADOR.
Meanwhile, because Danielle ultimately did not finalize an exclusive contract with ADOR, she is currently excluded from NewJeans activities. On the 29th of last month, ADOR notified Danielle of the termination of her exclusive contract and filed a lawsuit seeking a total of 43.1 billion won in damages and penalties against Danielle, one family member, and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin. Danielle's side appointed legal counsel and signaled legal action.
Min's side repeatedly asserted, "Those who actually planned and executed the tampering may not be Min Hee-jin, but a family member of one NewJeans member and outside forces disrupting the capital market," adding, "Min and the NewJeans members are closer to victims in this matter."