Min Hee-jin Reflects on ADOR Dispute: 'Living with Conviction is Not Easy'

▲ Min Hee-jin, former CEO of ADOR, the management of K-pop girl group New Jeans, appears in this captured image from the "Women Who Became a Genre" talk concert, held in Gangnam, Seoul, on Dec. 6, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Dec. 7 (Yonhap) -- Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin compared her conflict with HYBE to a religious war, asserting, "In time, the truth of who is genuine and factual will come to light."

Speaking at the "Women Who Became a Genre" talk concert in Gangnam, Seoul, on Friday, Min expressed frustration, stating, "No matter how much I think about it, I don't believe I've done anything wrong. Yet, even when I speak the truth, people refuse to believe it." She added, "I hope the lawsuit ends soon and everything concludes quickly, but time does not move at my will."

Reflecting on the toll of the ongoing battle, she said, "It's excruciatingly painful, but I can only remind myself of why this fight began in the first place."

This event marked Min's first public appearance since stepping down as ADOR’s executive director. The talk was part of a series co-organized by Hanwha General Insurance and career content service Folin.

Min admitted she underestimated the duration and nature of the conflict with HYBE, saying, "I didn't expect this fight to be so protracted or intense. I'm not the type to calculate losses, and I have a habit of addressing issues that need fixing, even if it's exhausting."

She shared the challenges of standing by her convictions: "Living with integrity is not easy. You face a lot of attacks and baseless accusations. It's frustrating to carry that burden because you can't always refute every lie."

Min emphasized the importance of actions over words: "I believe in proving myself through results, behavior, and the life I lead. Responding with words to lies is petty and meaningless."

Regarding NewJeans, the group she produced, she explained, "I started this project with a clear purpose and the belief that there was something meaningful to show the world. I was confident that well-made, good work would be irresistible."

Min noted her strong preference for creative independence: "I hate interference when I'm setting directions or crafting the big picture, which is part of why this conflict arose."

However, Min refrained from commenting on NewJeans’ recent declaration to terminate their exclusive contract with ADOR.

Last month, NewJeans announced their decision to terminate their contract with ADOR as of November 29, 2024, while expressing a desire to continue working with Min if possible. ADOR, in response, filed a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the contract, maintaining it remains in effect.

Min concluded with a broader reflection: "There’s so much animosity and aggression everywhere. I think it's because people are under a lot of stress, but perhaps we'd all feel more at ease if we learned to let some things go."

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