According to Sports Seoul, the controversy over girl group NewJeans is getting more heated. What is unusual is that an artist (NewJeans) directly criticized her management company (HYBE) strongly during a live broadcast.
5 NewJeans members (Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, Hyein) requested HYBE to bring Min Hee Jin back to the position of ADOR CEO and return ADOR company to its original state before September 25.
HYBE stated that they would “respond in principle,” but controversy grew when BTS’ Jungkook also appeared to show support for the group NewJeans.
HYBE's stock price recently fell to 164,000 won, nearing a three-month low of 160,000 won.
Many legal experts have analyzed the gains and losses that NewJeans, Min Hee Jin, and HYBE face after the shocking livestream.
Lawyer Koh Sang Rok - a former lawyer at Korea's leading law firm Kim & Chang - criticized HYBE for treating NewJeans as a "popular product" and easily removing it when artists do not follow their wishes.
The lawyer added that when NewJeans publicly criticized HYBE, they objectively “lost more than they gained,” and the beneficiary would be former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin.
However, this may help NewJeans in court, as their actions show “sincerity”. HYBE could not have foreseen this situation.
“I believe that the members of NewJeans chose to act this way to protect their values. In a situation that is not their fault, regardless of whether HYBE or Min Hee Jin is at fault, they are being deprived of an environment where they can continue to extend their achievements. It is unfair.
BTS Jungkook posted a message that became a hot topic, emphasizing that the artist is not guilty. In this situation, the NewJeans members are going through something harsh that they should not have to face because of adult conflicts," said lawyer Koh.
Attorney Kim Pil Seong of Garosu Law Firm also pointed out HYBE’s immature response. Attorney Kim predicted: “From a legal perspective, HYBE did nothing wrong in this matter. If you look at what has been reported, the possibility of former CEO Min Hee Jin winning is not high.”
However, Kim said, business is not done solely through the law. “The law is a last resort. In most cases, if you have to resort to the law, you are already in the worst situation,” he said.
He further analyzed: “The entertainment business is an image business. The most important thing in the entertainment industry is the image presented to the public. HYBE should have anticipated how the public would perceive them, how NewJeans would react, and what impact that reaction would have.”
Media Watch CEO Byun Hee Jae again criticized HYBE Chairman Bang Si Hyuk. He said that Chairman Bang should be held responsible for the decline in HYBE's stock price and that shareholders can sue Bang Si Hyuk for breach of trust.
“The ownership, assets, and capital are all held by President Bang, but the person who actually planned NewJeans is former CEO Min Hee Jin.
The executive rights of the creators who created the work must at least be recognized.
It would make a lot of sense if creators got together and removed powerful people like President Bang from the pop culture world,” the Media Watch director emphasized.
