Since late April, Min Hee Jin and HYBE have been embroiled in a public dispute over NewJeans and their label, ADOR.
Recently, YouTuber Lee Jin Ho disclosed a fresh set of KakaoTalk messages, revealing a conversation between Min Hee Jin and the vice president of ADOR about the financial implications of NewJeans’ contracts. In the screenshot, the VP is seen informing Min about the cost of NewJeans’ contracts.
VP (March 14, 2024): The termination amount per person is estimated at 12.45 billion KRW. With five members, this totals around 62 billion KRW. However, the current shareholder agreement states that any major contract changes, terminations, or renewals must be approved by the ADOR board.
Min Hee Jin: Huh? NewJeans? That’s not much.
VP: Oh, I apologize. It’s actually between 450 billion KRW and 620 billion KRW.
VP (March 15, 2024): No matter how much I think about it, the damage we would incur if the members leave is too significant. We would have to leave behind all past albums, and all contracts with brands are tied to ADOR.
The leaked conversation has sparked suspicion among Korean netizens, but not towards Min Hee Jin. Instead, many are questioning the intentions of the vice president, noting the odd nature of his messages. Some netizens speculate that he might be acting on behalf of HYBE, citing Min Hee Jin’s surprised reactions as evidence of the vice president’s abrupt initiation of the conversation.
- “Why aren’t they suing the vice president?”
- “LOL, HYBE looks so pathetic.”
- “The penalty fees are enormous.”
- “It’s easy to calculate, but they’re getting ostracized.”
- “If people knew their severance pay, many would be ready to resign.”
- “Min Hee Jin only said ‘Huh?’ but the VP seems strange, like a HYBE spy.”
- “Either confront them directly or release the screenshots properly. Complaining to YouTubers and journalists is pointless.”
- “Try submitting it to the court.”
- “Is the VP a puppet for HYBE? Why does it feel like he’s leading the conversation?”
- “This is a serious issue, but they’re discussing it a day apart. They might not even see it as a breach of duty.”
- “In the end, it’s about the cost and practical difficulties. If HYBE doesn’t want to sell, nothing can be done.”
- “If you look at it, the VP might have said that out of context. We need the original transcript to avoid misunderstandings.”
- “I also calculated my severance pay six months before quitting. Was I breaching my duty, too? My former company, take my severance pay~~”
Source: 연예 뒤통령이진호 and TheQoo
