Latest news with #MinHeeJin
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
BTS management agency under investigation; alleged to have drawn off from NJZ's contract fee for funding to subsidiary
BTS' management firm has been under investigation by authorities for quite some time. From insider trading claims to the CEO allegedly gaining funds from IPOs that were not announced, they have undergone a lot of rumours in the past months. Now, another allegation against the company has come to light. New reports against the BTS agency come to light As per the speculations and allegations, they have been drawing out funds from the contract fee for NJZ to provide funds to another subsidiary operating under them. Reports from Instiz have revealed a legal document that directly points towards how the company has been profiting off of NJZ's contract fee and has been siphoning funds from them. The contract in hand is a partnership deal that occurred between the popular K-pop group and an extremely popular online game that went viral a few years ago. The deal was for 10.0 billion KRW; however, as per documents, it showed that the company had taken about 4.10 billion KRW for a subsidiary. The issue was caught later on, after which they issued a statement of correction, while returning only 1.60 billion KRW. Many have been sharing their disdain over the matter and have expressed how unrealistic the situation is. Many share their speculations online According to the report, many have taken to fan forum websites to share their insights on the matter. Allegedly, the original amount that was taken from the contract fee was 500 million KRW, which was later increased to 4.1 billion KRW by the company after Min Hee Jin left another one of their subsidiaries, ADOR. This has become another case that is currently being investigated by Investigation Bureau 4. Previously, it was reported that approximately 27 entities from the company, including the chairman Bang Shi Hyuk, have been under investigation. They are being investigated based on tax evasion, fraud, and stock market manipulation.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Korean girl group NJZ heads to court over ADOR contract dispute: ‘We can't trust ADOR anymore..'
The contract dispute between NJZ (formerly NewJeans) and ADOR is growing messier with every court date. On July 24, the Seoul Central District Court held its third hearing in the ongoing case over the validity of the girl group's exclusive contract — and confirmed a closed-door mediation session set for August 14. With both sides sticking to their positions, the outcome of this mediation could shape the group's future. Korean girl group NJZ Timeline of the battle The legal rift began when the five-member group, via their lawyers, moved to terminate their contract with ADOR in November 2023, a move the agency is fighting to overturn. At the heart of the case is former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, who remains a polarising figure in the narrative. NJZ's legal representatives argue that the dispute stems from a now-closed internal audit of Min, initiated by ADOR's parent company HYBE in May. 'This legal fight began because HYBE launched an audit against Min Hee Jin in April 2024. They claimed she was trying to seize management control and 'take' NewJeans, but there was no evidence in the audit or grounds for dismissal. The main issue was an alleged breach of duty, and in the midst of it all, NewJeans suffered the most. Police later found no evidence of Min Hee Jin committing a breach of duty. The audit and dismissal attempts were based on false premises and intended to remove Min Hee Jin,' said NJZ's legal team. In court, NJZ's attorneys claimed ADOR failed in its basic responsibilities, justifying the group's decision to walk away. The legal team further said, 'Today's ADOR is not the same ADOR that led to our past success. It's now controlled by HYBE staff. The so-called generous support and dividends came when Min Hee Jin was CEO. We can't trust ADOR anymore, which is why we can't return to it in its current state.' ADOR, however, hit back, stating that the group's legal arguments have changed over time and accused them of retroactively trying to build a case. 'This is an unreasonable attempt to invalidate the contracts after the fact,' said ADOR's legal counsel, who also emphasised the agency's financial investment in the group — over 21 billion won ($15.3 million) in total, including 7 billion won on the debut album and 2 billion won on music videos. ADOR claimed that NewJeans' rapid success was a result of the agency's strategic planning and support, arguing that the attempt to leave just two years after debut is unjustified. The agency also painted Min as the mastermind behind the group's attempted exit, citing alleged private messages between her and former executives that suggest a long-term plan to take the group with her. According to ADOR, those messages even detailed strategies such as launching plagiarism accusations against HYBE's other girl group, Illit, and pushing certain narratives in the press. ADOR alleged that the contract termination notice itself was crafted by Min's legal team. In response to claims of mismanagement, ADOR maintained that it fulfilled its obligations and revealed that each member had earned more than 5 billion won individually. 'The agency is still preparing for the group's comeback,' ADOR's lawyer stated. 'Our staff are waiting for the day they return.' The next chapter in this saga unfolds on August 14, behind closed doors. But for fans and industry watchers, the stakes couldn't be more public.
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
NewJeans Might Return To ADOR If This One Demand Is Met
NewJeans' feud with ADOR began after an internal audit was conducted against Min Hee Jin by HYBE back in April last year. Following months of a feud and a lawsuit, NewJeans, also known as NJZ, has shared that they are open to returning to their former agency, ADOR, only on one condition. This unexpected turn occurred during the third hearing of ADOR's case, which sought to validate their contract with the girl group, on Thursday, July 24, at the Seoul Central District Court's Civil Agreement Division 41. At the hearing, the legal representative of NewJeans, comprising Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, hinted that they might return to the agency only if ADOR is restored to how it was before April 2024. 'It's not that the members absolutely refuse to return," said the lawyer, as quoted by Allkpop. 'If ADOR were restored to the state it was when the members first trusted it, they would return even without being asked," NewJeans' side added. Their representative further highlighted that the agency is now under the control of HYBE, the South Korean entertainment giant behind groups like BTS and TXT. 'The current ADOR is like a phone with its SIM card replaced, completely different, and now under HYBE's control. So, they cannot go back," the group's side shared, emphasising their willingness to return only if ADOR's former CEO, Min Hee Jin, is reinstated. Their representative further added, 'The current ADOR is filled with HYBE executives following Min Hee Jin's dismissal. The ADOR that the members trusted and signed with no longer exists. Today's ADOR is not the same ADOR that wholeheartedly supported the members when the contracts were signed." ADOR's Reaction To NewJeans' Condition During the same hearing, the agency argued that the reason behind NewJeans' termination of their exclusive contracts keeps 'changing". ADOR said, 'The individual reasons for termination raised by the defendants are unjustified. We will submit detailed explanations in writing before the next hearing." All About The Dispute Between ADOR And NewJeans The primary reason behind the conflict between ADOR and NewJeans stems from an internal audit conducted by HYBE in April 2024 against Min Hee Jin. The audit accused the former CEO of trying to take over ADOR and alleged that she tried to 'steal" NewJeans. 'Although there were claims of a hostile takeover and allegations of 'attempt to steal NewJeans,' none of these were listed as a reason for Min Hee Jin's dismissal at the time," said NewJeans' side. Sharing that the group suffered the most in the fight between Min Hee Jin and HYBE, their lawyer added, 'Just ten days ago, in a separate case filed by HYBE, police concluded after a thorough investigation that Min Hee Jin's actions were part of her duties as ADOR's CEO and did not constitute a breach of trust. The case was dropped without indictment." A closed-door mediation session regarding the case is scheduled for August 14. If the mediation fails, the court will share its judgment on October 30, almost a year after NewJeans unilaterally terminated their contract with ADOR. view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 11:55 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
NJZ to return to ADOR? Girl group shares ‘requirements' for rejoining agency
The highly publicized legal dispute between K-pop girl group NewJeans (also known as NJZ) and their agency, ADOR, has taken a new turn with reports indicating the group's willingness to return to the company. This comes after a court ruling favored ADOR, affirming the validity of their exclusive contracts. However, NewJeans has reportedly outlined specific "requirements" that must be met for their rejoining, hinting at a potential compromise after months of legal wrangling that has seen both sides present conflicting arguments over contract validity and management responsibilities. NJZ requests that Min Hee Jin rejoin ADOR In a significant development reported by Naver, NewJeans has expressed their conditional willingness to return to ADOR, with their primary demand being the reinstatement of former CEO Min Hee Jin. This latest revelation emerged during a hearing on July 24 at the Seoul Central District Court's Civil Agreement Division 41, concerning ADOR's lawsuit to confirm the validity of NewJeans' contracts. In the last hearing, when the court had ruled in favour of the company, NJZ's legal representatives at the time had not shared any direct statement; however, they had expressed no interest in rejoining the firm. In the latest hearing, however, they have issued a statement sharing that they cannot put their trust in the company, citing Hee Jin's dismissal as CEO. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Filipinos don't know about this! Read More Undo They shared, 'The current ADOR is filled with HYBE executives following Min Hee Jin's dismissal. The ADOR that the members trusted and signed with no longer exists. Today's ADOR is not the same ADOR that wholeheartedly supported the members when the contracts were signed'. They then expressed that the only way the group will agree to returning to the company is if the former CEO is reinstated to her original position within the firm. They issued a statement regarding the same, saying, 'If ADOR were restored to the state it was when the members first trusted it, they would return even without being asked. But the current ADOR is like a phone with its SIM card replaced, completely different, and now under HYBE's control. So, they cannot go back'. A few days ago, the district court ruled in favour of Min Hee Jin and cleared her of all charges, citing that her actions were done in part of her duty as the company's top official. ADOR insists Min Hee Jin is the 'culprit' During the same hearing, the group's company issued statements sharing that the former CEO is behind NJZ's contract termination. They have alleged during the hearing that the issues that the group faced, such as the plagiarism allegations with ILLIT, as well as Hanni's 'ignore her' issue, as well. In response to that, NJZ's legal representatives shared a statement that compared the situation to a family. They shared, 'The mom who raised us was kicked out, and now the abusive dad is saying, 'I'll find you a better mom, so come back home''.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
NewJeans open to returning to ADOR despite mental health woes that forced them to take antidepressants — but they've one condition
On July 24, 2025, the Seoul Central District Court held the highly anticipated third hearing in the courtroom showdown between K-pop girl group NewJeans, now rebranded as NJZ, and their label ADOR (now under HYBE). NJZ is seeking to terminate their exclusive contracts, alleging mistreatment and irreparable trust issues. ADOR, meanwhile, is fighting to maintain its management rights. NewJeans' (NJZ) mental health claims NewJeans shared through their legal team that they no longer trust ADOR, claiming the agency has completely changed since HYBE took over from Min Hee-jin, who originally helped the group rise to success. They described feeling distressed even being near ADOR's building and revealed that some members have started taking medication due to stress. Comparing their situation to 'a bullied person being forced to face their bully,' NJZ also mentioned that the supportive staff they once relied on have left, and that ADOR no longer listens to them. Hanni's CCTV footage sparks trust issues among NJZ ADOR denies wrongdoing Adding to their concerns, NJZ's legal team pointed to missing CCTV footage involving member Hanni—while her entrance into the ADOR building was recorded, the footage of her leaving was absent. They argued this gap unfairly painted her as dishonest and showed the agency's failure to protect its artists. In response, ADOR's legal team claimed the footage was automatically deleted after 30 days, calling it a standard procedure and not grounds to terminate a contract. Despite the ongoing legal conflict, reports suggest ADOR is still preparing for NewJeans' comeback and insists its team is ready to support the group. NJZ open to returning to ADOR—under one condition What caught the most attention during the latest hearing was a surprising statement from NJZ's legal team: the members are not completely against returning to ADOR. However, they made it clear that this would only be possible if the agency could return to how it was before the audit in April 2024. If that environment can't be restored, they said, the group would prefer to terminate the contract and move on. NJZ's legal team says group became collateral damage in HYBE-Min Hee Jin conflict NJZ's legal representatives argued that the group's ongoing legal conflict stems from HYBE's audit of former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin in April 2024. They explained that although the core issue was an allegation of breach of duty, it was NewJeans who ended up bearing the brunt of the fallout. 'This legal fight began because HYBE launched an audit against Min Hee Jin, accusing her of trying to seize control and take NewJeans,' the team stated. 'But the audit found no such evidence, and police later confirmed she did not commit breach of duty. The group suffered the most during this entire process.' They further claimed the audit and subsequent dismissal attempts were baseless and aimed at removing Min Hee Jin from power. More about NewJeans vs ADOR drama The dispute began in November 2024 when NJZ publicly terminated their contract and rebranded, citing broken trust, especially after Min Hee Jin's dismissal as ADOR CEO. In October 2024, member Hanni testified before a parliamentary committee about workplace harassment. Despite ADOR gaining legal ground, NJZ has declined to appeal injunctions and remains on hiatus since their March ComplexCon Hong Kong performance. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
