The ongoing legal dispute between Min Hee Jin and HYBE continues to unfold dramatically, now with new allegations that further complicate the narrative surrounding her attempted takeover of ADOR and control of NewJeans. On June 5, YouTuber Lee Jin Ho added fuel to the fire by disclosing alleged KakaoTalk messages between Min Hee Jin and former ADOR vice representative Lee. The screenshots suggest a calculated plan not just to separate ADOR from HYBE, but to acquire majority ownership of the subsidiary and, with it, exclusive rights to NewJeans.
According to the messages, Min Hee Jin and her associate were in talks with a potential investor ready to commit funding “on the scale of trillions of won.” Their strategy appeared to involve offering HYBE her existing shares in exchange for ADOR shares, thereby attempting a buyout. However, she expressed skepticism that such a financial move alone would sway HYBE into relinquishing NewJeans. This, she believed, required more aggressive measures—namely, strategic exposure of internal company vulnerabilities.
The texts reveal a striking level of intent to pressure HYBE through external means. Min allegedly discussed leveraging insider information to put HYBE in a compromising position, with plans to unearth or publicize a “dirty secret” that could disrupt internal negotiations and force the parent company to the bargaining table. Her rationale was that silent internal dialogue would marginalize ADOR’s position in future ownership changes. Instead, she sought to destabilize HYBE’s standing both publicly and internally to shift the power dynamic in her favor.
A particularly controversial part of the plan, as described in the texts, included orchestrated media coverage—one that praised NewJeans while casting doubt on rival groups like ILLIT, another girl group under HYBE. According to Lee Jin Ho’s broadcast, Min saw this dual narrative as essential to controlling public sentiment and accelerating the corporate shift she desired. The messages suggest she was advised to actively engage media outlets, securing favorable press for herself and NewJeans while indirectly pressuring HYBE’s executive image.
If authenticated, these messages could significantly impact public perception and legal proceedings. While Min Hee Jin has framed her recent actions as protective of NewJeans’ artistic identity, these new disclosures suggest motives that blend personal ambition with strategic manipulation. Her critics argue that this behavior represents a breach of fiduciary duty and ethical conduct within corporate management, while supporters may view it as a high-stakes fight for creative independence in a deeply hierarchical industry.
As the legal battle continues, the central question remains: were these actions calculated attempts to preserve NewJeans’ artistic direction, or an orchestrated coup to seize control of one of K-pop’s most promising assets? The answer may ultimately reshape not just the future of ADOR, but also the wider business model of idol agency structures in South Korea.