Min Hee Jin's silence fuels speculation: best vs. worst case scenarios

Amid ongoing discord between HYBE and the label ADOR, Min Hee-jin, the head of ADOR, remains silent.

In the entertainment industry, Min's playing of the 'Copy' card is seen as touching the nerves of star composer and producer Bang Si-hyuk, as well as disturbing the equilibrium of fandom. The initial response was deemed inadequate.

On the 22nd, the day HYBE initiated an audit and demanded Min's resignation, Min expressed her stance through a statement, saying, "Belift Lab's artist ILLIT raised issues regarding NewJeans copying, which led to my attempted dismissal." 

However, this statement faced backlash. Internally at HYBE and even among ILLIT and NewJeans fandoms, Min's excessive arrogance was criticized.

In particular, the statement "After sufficient discussions with NewJeans members and legal representatives, we have announced our official position" turned into a boomerang. In the music industry, there are concerns that if members follow Min's path, it could lead to a reenactment of last year's Fifty Fifty lawsuit, where members filed for termination of exclusive contracts with their agency.

On the 24th, NewJeans fans sent a truck protest in front of HYBE's headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul, displaying messages like "Min Hee-jin, stop exploiting NewJeans and their families." ,"Bunnies support HYBE-affiliated NewJeans."

The best-case scenario is for Min to resign gracefully. Insiders familiar with HYBE's internal affairs gathered opinions, stating, "Within HYBE, there is a prevalent opinion that we cannot continue with Min." Min's excessively autocratic leadership is the cause. However, if Min resigns as demanded by HYBE, it is speculated that investors looking to capture Min, who has become a brand through this incident, will line up. A mid-sized music industry figure said, "Having produced NewJeans, an outstanding result after passing through SM Entertainment, both domestically and internationally, investors will line up." HYBE also strategizes to put in every effort to preserve the IP called NewJeans if Min resigns. Multiple music industry insiders predicted, "In order to save 'NewJeans without Min Hee-jin,' the current management team, troubled by Min's autocratic management, will put even more effort."

Park Ji-won, CEO of HYBE, sent an email on the 23rd, urging to do their best in their work for NewJeans' comeback and growth. He also added, "I ask those involved to put in special efforts so that the artists are not shaken by this incident." NewJeans is set to make a double single comeback on the 24th next month, ahead of entering Tokyo Dome in June.

The worst-case scenario is for NewJeans to side with Min. If members file for termination lawsuits against the company, they will be crossing a river they cannot return from. With a precedent like Fifty Fifty, there is a high chance that baseless injunctions will be rejected.

From HYBE's perspective, if NewJeans raises objections against the company, there will be no reason to invest further in them. Whether Min and NewJeans will choose a happy ending or a sad one remains to be seen.