K-pop girl group NewJeans delivers an ultimatum to HYBE.

The ongoing conflict between K-pop powerhouse HYBE and former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin has taken a fresh twist. NewJeans, Min Hee Jin's girl group, had previously stayed silent on the matter but has now broken their silence. In a tweet that has since been deleted, the group posted a YouTube link to a livestream on a now-deactivated account called "nwjeans."

During the livestream, the five members urged HYBE to reinstate Min Hee-jin as CEO. Over the course of about 30 minutes, they spoke in both Korean and English, expressing concerns about their futures, discomfort with continuing under HYBE’s management, and sharing personal stories previously untold.

Minji also addressed the new legal dispute between ADOR and Shin Woo-seok, the director behind NewJeans’ 'Ditto' and 'ETA' music videos, revealing her fear over the potential impact on their work. The director has alleged that ADOR targeted him for sharing "director’s cut" versions of the videos and other content on his personal YouTube channel, which he claims was done with permission.

Hanni, another member of the group, shared her experience of feeling mistreated by staff, recalling how a manager ignored her after she greeted him and his team. "On the 4th floor of the building, where the hair and makeup rooms are located, I was waiting alone in the hallway. A different group and their manager passed by, and we exchanged friendly greetings," she explained. However, she went on to say that the same manager instructed his team to ignore her. "This happened right in front of me—I could hear and see everything. The manager said, ‘ignore her,’ and I still don’t understand why I had to experience that. It left me completely speechless," she said.

Danielle highlighted Min Hee-jin's vital role in shaping the group and contributing to their growing success. "Min Hee-jin isn't just the producer of our music; she's the person who defines who NewJeans is. She takes the time to discuss even the smallest details with us, explaining them in ways we fully understand. The unique style and tone of NewJeans were crafted alongside Min Hee-jin. She is a key part of our identity, and we all believe she is simply irreplaceable," Danielle expressed.

Danielle highlighted Min Hee-jin's crucial role in shaping the group and its growing success. "Min Hee-jin isn't just the producer of our music; she's the person who defines who NewJeans is. She takes the time to discuss even the smallest details with us, explaining them in ways we fully understand. The unique style and tone of NewJeans were crafted alongside Min Hee-jin. She is a key part of our identity, and we all believe she is simply irreplaceable," Danielle expressed.

Additionally, the situation is causing significant concern among fans and industry professionals, who fear that the crisis could impact the group's trajectory and cohesion. The tension surrounding the case not only affects the internal environment of the band but also raises questions about the stability and transparency of management practices within major entertainment companies. The outcome of this conflict could have far-reaching implications for the dynamics and future of the K-pop industry, reflecting the complex relationships between artists and their labels.

In May, a court ruled that Min Hee-jin could legally stay on as CEO. However, in the past month, a former female ADOR employee alleged that Min had covered up her claims of sexual harassment against a male superior. Although HYBE's internal investigation reportedly found no evidence of harassment, Min was accused of verbally mistreating the employee for speaking out. Min denied these accusations, suggesting that the conflict was related to the employee's performance and salary issues.