Min Hee-jin launched NewJeans in 2022 under ADOR. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin made derogatory comments about the popular girl group NewJeans’ weight and their success in new leaked messages.
Min Hee-jin, CEO of ADOR, is finding herself embroiled in a controversy yet again as South Korean media outlet Dispatch publicly exposed her private KakaoTalk messages. These messages, reportedly provided by ADOR’s parent company, HYBE Labels, show Hee-jin making derogatory comments about the popular girl group NewJeans, whom she helped launch in 2022. In the leaked texts, the CEO appears to be criticising the group members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein, for their weight and used offensive language, like comparing them with a pig.
As per KoreaBoo, the translated text read, “I suddenly remembered why I got a reality check while working in this field. It’s terrible taking care of immature kids who are crazy about wanting to become famous celebrities. They need my direction and want to be popular. They really be doing the most. I do get the job done well. It could be that I am drunk off my own success that I am able to do all this. I feel like I’m doing good for someone else. Wasting time trying to make a living for these immature kids. What do they know? I get a reality check when I see them looking in the mirror and only thinking about dancing. I mean, can you actually call that working?”
In another screenshot with a different ADOR executive, Min Hee-jin talked about planning NewJeans’ acceptance speech for the 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards. In the text message, the CEO felt that if the group ignored her efforts, it would be unacceptable. She mentioned that she has worked hard on their albums and believes the group should simply thank and promise to keep working hard, rather than trying to look impressive. She also suggested that they didn’t just simply succeed due to their talent.
“What is the point of a personal story message? They need to know something to even throw a message. They’re just some f***ing kids who get in trouble because they can’t even lose weight. Just tell them to always be humble. Since I’m getting the popularity for them even if they gain weight like a pig,” Min Hee-jin added.
After the private messages between Min Hee-jin and her staff were leaked online, she decided to take legal action against HYBE. According to Sport Chosun, ADOR has filed a lawsuit accusing HYBE of unlawfully leaking and modifying the messages and personal details. The complaint alleged that HYBE obtained ADOR’s office laptops for routine audit purposes in an attempt to remove Hee-jin from her role as CEO.
