Hybe and Min Hee-jin clash over NewJeans contract drafting in Korea
Following a report by The New York Times (NYT) on NewJeans' exclusive contract, HYBE, ADOR, and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin (ooak CEO) are trading barbs over how the contract was signed and who is responsible. HYBE and ADOR say it was a contract reviewed together by Min, the members' parents, and others, while Min's side countered that HYBE was involved in drafting the initial version and giving final approval.
HYBE and ADOR released an explanatory statement on the 6th, saying, "The NewJeans exclusive contract includes basic human rights protection clauses," and "it encompasses the contents guaranteed by the national standard youth addendum." They said that after sharing a draft in Jan. 2022, they proceeded to sign the contract in Apr. following Q&A exchanges, email communications, and review by lawyers for the artists, and that this process was also recognized in a recent court decision.
Earlier, on the 5th (local time), the NYT reported on the exclusive contract NewJeans signed with ADOR in 2022, saying it did not sufficiently guarantee minors' rights to education, sleep, and rest, and that there were parts that violated the government's standard contract. It also said the contract included provisions that members must not engage in conduct prohibited by law, as well as display an insincere attitude, neglect self-management, engage in inappropriate dating, make discriminatory remarks, or foment division with the company.
HYBE said Min, the former CEO, was the party who signed the contract in question. HYBE said, "We explained to The New York Times, with supporting materials, that the NewJeans contract was final-signed after wording was coordinated together by then-CEO Min Hee-jin, the deputy CEO appointed by Min, each member and their parents, and some members' legal representatives," and added, "We asked that the article also specify that Min Hee-jin was the contracting party, but that was not accepted."
Min's side countered, "The draft of the NewJeans exclusive contract was written by HYBE's legal team." They continued, "Revisions to the contract were also handled through HYBE's legal team," and noted, "ADOR's role was to communicate with the artists based on the HYBE-drafted contract and to relay parents' questions and revision requests to HYBE's legal team while coordinating."
They added, "HYBE claims there is nothing wrong with the contents of the NewJeans exclusive contract, while at the same time saying Min Hee-jin, the former CEO, was the party to all these contracts," and said, "If so, we ask whether HYBE released a lengthy explanation statement because it wanted to praise Min Hee-jin."
They also argued, "After designing a structure in which a subsidiary CEO cannot approve unless the HYBE CEO approves, distributing a statement that creates a scapegoat to shift responsibility is like spitting in one's own face."
Min's side added, "HYBE, it is time to break away from the absurd 'Min Hee-jin theory of everything' and show responsibility and a willingness to improve for the future of K-pop."
Source: https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-industry/2026/11/06/ZFZ2TXBH5NCSZD4LCTQ6AW5L7E/
Following a report by The New York Times (NYT) on NewJeans' exclusive contract, HYBE, ADOR, and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin (ooak CEO) are trading barbs over how the contract was signed and who is responsible. HYBE and ADOR say it was a contract reviewed together by Min, the members' parents, and others, while Min's side countered that HYBE was involved in drafting the initial version and giving final approval.
HYBE and ADOR released an explanatory statement on the 6th, saying, "The NewJeans exclusive contract includes basic human rights protection clauses," and "it encompasses the contents guaranteed by the national standard youth addendum." They said that after sharing a draft in Jan. 2022, they proceeded to sign the contract in Apr. following Q&A exchanges, email communications, and review by lawyers for the artists, and that this process was also recognized in a recent court decision.
Earlier, on the 5th (local time), the NYT reported on the exclusive contract NewJeans signed with ADOR in 2022, saying it did not sufficiently guarantee minors' rights to education, sleep, and rest, and that there were parts that violated the government's standard contract. It also said the contract included provisions that members must not engage in conduct prohibited by law, as well as display an insincere attitude, neglect self-management, engage in inappropriate dating, make discriminatory remarks, or foment division with the company.
HYBE said Min, the former CEO, was the party who signed the contract in question. HYBE said, "We explained to The New York Times, with supporting materials, that the NewJeans contract was final-signed after wording was coordinated together by then-CEO Min Hee-jin, the deputy CEO appointed by Min, each member and their parents, and some members' legal representatives," and added, "We asked that the article also specify that Min Hee-jin was the contracting party, but that was not accepted."
Min's side countered, "The draft of the NewJeans exclusive contract was written by HYBE's legal team." They continued, "Revisions to the contract were also handled through HYBE's legal team," and noted, "ADOR's role was to communicate with the artists based on the HYBE-drafted contract and to relay parents' questions and revision requests to HYBE's legal team while coordinating."
They added, "HYBE claims there is nothing wrong with the contents of the NewJeans exclusive contract, while at the same time saying Min Hee-jin, the former CEO, was the party to all these contracts," and said, "If so, we ask whether HYBE released a lengthy explanation statement because it wanted to praise Min Hee-jin."
They also argued, "After designing a structure in which a subsidiary CEO cannot approve unless the HYBE CEO approves, distributing a statement that creates a scapegoat to shift responsibility is like spitting in one's own face."
Min's side added, "HYBE, it is time to break away from the absurd 'Min Hee-jin theory of everything' and show responsibility and a willingness to improve for the future of K-pop."
Source: https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-industry/2026/11/06/ZFZ2TXBH5NCSZD4LCTQ6AW5L7E/