On October 15th, Japan’s TV Asahi·ANN comprehensive news program “Hodo Station” reported on an exclusive interview with Min Hee-jin.
In the interview, Min Hee-jin said, “Currently, I haven’t signed a producer contract, so I’m neither a producer nor a CEO. I only have the authority of an internal director, so I’m in a somewhat floating situation.“
She continued, “Of course, I’m still continuing the practical work that I planned and conducted before. While I am doing actual work, I feel that the next steps are uncertain, and I want to resolve this situation quickly.”
Min Hee-jin expressed uncertainty about NewJeans’ future “I don’t know what will happen to NewJeans. I’m just leaving it to fate” and added, “I had already been thinking about a full album early next year, starting with a world tour. But who could have predicted that such a thing would happen?“
She also revealed her affection for the NewJeans members, mentioning Hanni, who appeared as a reference at the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee hearing on October 15th. Min Hee-jin stated, “Since Hanni’s mother is not in Seoul right now, it’s only natural that I have to play the role of her mother while in Seoul. Someone has to be a support.”
Regarding the management dispute with HYBE and her dismissal from the CEO position, she said, “It is contradictory to accuse me of breach of trust while offering me a producer role. I chose to join because HYBE claimed they wanted to create a new wave and flow in K-pop. If those aspects hadn’t been guaranteed, I wouldn’t have even joined the company.”
Min Hee-jin remarked, “I think this is just a temporary pause; I don’t think it’s over. This dispute will come to a conclusion in some way, and I will do my utmost to fulfill NewJeans’ plans.”
Previously, HYBE began an audit in April, alleging that Min Hee-jin attempted to seize control of ADOR. In August, they dismissed her from her CEO position and appointed Kim Joo-young as the new CEO. Regarding this, NewJeans members conducted a live broadcast calling for Min Hee-jin’s reinstatement as CEO, and Min Hee-jin filed an application for a provisional injunction claiming her dismissal was unjust.