Every day a new layer unfolds in the ongoing dispute between ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and South Korean entertainment giant HYBE. In a recent turn of events, former SM Entertainment executive David C. has come forward in support of Min Hee-jin. The conflict became public on April 22 and revolved around allegations that Min Hee-jin was planning a takeover of independent management rights of ADOR and consequently, NewJeans, a label under ADOR.
However, ADOR promptly denied these accusations, stating that they had no intention of seizing control. The roots of this dispute seem to lie in Min Hee-jin’s concerns regarding alleged similarities between the styling, choreography and music videos of ILLIT, a girl group under HYBE’s label Belift Lab and those of NewJeans.
Min Hee-jin’s public image has been somewhat polarized, with criticisms of her casual appearance and use of strong language during press conferences. According to Korea Boo, some former colleagues have also expressed less than favourable opinions of her.
However, David C.’s recent post on LinkedIn has shed a different light on Min Hee-jin. Having worked closely with her during his tenure at SM Entertainment, David described her as a “challenging person to collaborate with” but also as a “trendsetter” who inspired him to launch his own music-related startup.
David credited Min Hee-jin with providing him with a “reality check,” noting an instance where she correctly predicted the failure of a project, leading him to eventually leave SM Entertainment and embark on his entrepreneurial journey.
He emphasised that Min Hee-jin, despite appearing “brash and unyielding,” is a visionary whose contribution to NewJeans’ success cannot be overlooked.
In his post, David also called out HYBE for allowing the feud to escalate and become public, suggesting that an official apology is warranted due to the negative impact on artists, fans and others involved.
“It’s not just about HYBE’s resources; it’s unimaginable without Min Hee-jin. It’s a well-known fact among music industry insiders that Bang Si-hyuk embraced her because he highly valued Min Hee-jin’s vision and talent.”
He joins a growing list of industry professionals including choreographer Kasper and former YG Entertainment creative director Shin Sung Jin, who have voiced their support for Min Hee-jin.
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