- The conclusion was stated first.
“ADOR has neither the will nor ability to protect NewJeans.”
To fly free like a bird. (But a bird is not tied to the branches contractually.)
NewJeans is planning to follow NewJeans. The CEO who has both the will and ability to protect them.
“To work hard while enduring my disgust? Lol.
Feels like [I’m] working for others’ benefit. Wasting it for the livelihood of immature children.”
“Lol. What would they know. When I see them just looking at the mirror, thinking only of dancing, I become disillusioned.” (2023.12.30)
“They’re not artists. I’ve told you that several times. It’s annoying, don’t say that lol. They’re not freaking artists.” (2024.01.08)
2. What is an “artist” to Min Hee-jin?
“To work hard while enduring my disgust? Lol. Feels like [I’m] working for others’ benefit. Wasting it for for the livelihood of immature children.”
The conversation offers a peek into Min Hee-jin’s duplicity. She inherently does not respect artists.
According to Min Hee-jin, NewJeans are just immature children. And her role is to endure her disgust.
“Lol. What would they know. When I see them just looking at the mirror, thinking only of dancing, I become disillusioned.” (2023.12.30)
“They’re not artists. I’ve told you that several times. It’s annoying, don’t say that lol. They’re not freaking artists.” (2024.01.08)
3. To Min Hee-jin, artists are tools.
Min used NewJeans as mouthpieces in her fight against HYBE. They were utilized as megaphones to relay her will(?).
For instance, NewJeans’ surprise live broadcast on September 11.
“We don’t think that the way HYBE is operating right now is the correct way. Please reinstate our CEO [Min]…” (Hyein)
“What we want is an ADOR that was as it was before–with Min Hee-jin as its CEO, where management and producing are integrated…” (Minji)
“Reinstatement”–ever the foregone conclusion. Coincidentally, it was exactly what Min Hee-jin had demanded of HYBE that very morning.
2024.9.11, the day of NewJeans’ live broadcast.
<A conversation between Min Hee-jin and one of the [NewJeans] member’s family members>
“It’s HYBE after all, who knows if HYBE or the board of directors is planning to ruin ADOR?
For the normalization of management, I am firmly requesting that I be reinstated as CEO. Please propose an appropriate negotiation proposal that corresponds with this.” 11:23 AM
“—This is how I replied.” 11:23 AM
4. Min Hee-jin’s comeback strategy had a twin-track approach
From behind the scenes, Min Hee-jin demanded her reinstatement via email. Simultaneously, NewJeans would (publicly) pressure HYBE through their live broadcast.
‘Dispatch’ was able to obtain text messages sent by Min Hee-jin to one of the [NewJeans] member’s family members. The conversation took place on the day of the live broadcast.
“For the normalization of management, I am firmly requesting that I be reinstated as CEO.” (Min Hee-jin, 2024.09.11)
At the time, Min Hee-jin was on the defensive. The former CEO was under intense public scrutiny for the inappropriate way she dealt with sexual harassment allegations, which revealed her true ‘인실ㅈ’* nature.
*”인실ㅈ” refers to a Korean meme “인생이란건 실전이야 좆만아” which roughly translates to “life is about real actions, b*tch”, often used in the context of criticizing those who act recklessly or brashly without regard for laws or morals and face real-life consequences because of it.
That day, Min Hee-jin was able to turn the tides of negative public opinion with [NewJeans’] live broadcast. Those very same “immature children” paved the way to save her own livelihood.
Sender: “Do we broadcast on Youtube right now?” (6:37 PM)
MHJ: “No, at 7.
“Sir [member’s father], I’ve pushed back the time because the Bunnies have gotten ahold of something really good.
https://theqoo.net/hot/3400493986
HYBE got caught slandering me, and they might even make a sexual harassment issue out of it.
Thank you God.
They’re creating an environment to guarantee [NewJeans’] success.”
Sender: “Is the broadcast at 7?“
5. NewJeans insisted that the live broadcast “was done of their own accord.”
“CEO Min Hee-jin didn’t ask us to do this. We’re just concerned that misinformation might spread.”
Min Hee-jin’s side also denied all speculation regarding her involvement. In a (since deleted) interview with KBS, Min Hee-jin stated that she “discouraged them from doing the broadcast.”
Did she though?
The Telegram messages that ‘Dispatch’ was able to obtain told a wholly different story. (These were conversations between Min Hee-jin and a [NewJeans’] member’s family member on September 11.)
Min Hee-jin knew the exact time the broadcast was to begin. She even jubilates that “(Bunnies) are creating an environment to guarantee [NewJeans’] success.” Can this be seen as the behavior of someone who discouraged [the broadcast]?
Min Hee-jin used the artists’ voices to convey her own demands.
just girl:
“Ah… also Bunnies!
I’ve decided! To go to the National Assembly!
The governmental audit!
I’m going by myself!
You don’t have to worry! I’m going for myself and for the members.
Also you too, Bunnies!
I decided to go for Bunnies!
No, I’m okay! I want to go!
Not yet…our managers…and the company don’t know…
I’ve thought about it a lot, but I think it’s only right that I go.
No matter how much I think about it.
Also…I wanted to tell Bunnies first!”
6. Protect: To keep someone safe from danger and injury. (Dictionary)
A parent does not send their daughter into the crossfire. They do not use her as a weapon, nor as a shield. Conflicts can only lead to injury. It is impossible to avoid danger.
On October 9th, Hanni sent messages to Bunnies.
“I’ve decided!! To go to the National Assembly! The governmental audit! I’m going by myself!”
This time too, Hanni insisted that the decision was her own.
“You don’t have to worry!! I’m going for myself and for the members. Our managers and company don’t know yet.” (Hanni)
The managers didn’t know, the company didn’t know, but Min Hee-jin did.
7. There was no way Min Hee-jin didn’t know.
One day before Hanni told Bunnies of her decision to attend the “governmental audit,” on October 8th, Hanni visited Min Hee-jin’s studio. In Hanni’s hand was a yellow envelope (summons for witness attendance).
Min Hee-jin greeted Hanni warmly. A lawyer from the Sejong Law Firm was present as well. And between the three of them, a conversation that lasted over four hours.
Min Hee-jin patted Hanni on the back. Was it a gesture of restraint, or one of encouragement? In the end, the National Assembly became Hanni’s newest stage.
“If people respected one another, there wouldn’t be workplace harassment or ostracization,” Hanni said through tears.
Are Hanni’s tears worth more than a manager’s, because she is an idol and they are but staff? This is the dark side of the KPOP industry.
(The Ministry of Labor later released this statement as it closed the case, “It is difficult to consider Hanni a worker under the Labor Standards Act.” Hanni is an independent contractor who was paid 5.2 billion KRW ($3.7 million) last year.
8. Minji’s statements at the press conference on the 29th of November.
“We didn’t have any separate conversations with CEO Min Hee-jin, but we think that she wants the same thing we do…”
Whenever NewJeans’ presents an important statement, they always distance themselves from Min Hee-jin. They used words like “of our own accord” during the live broadcast, “by myself” for the governmental audit, and “separately” during the press conference.
The problem is that the invisible hand is far too visible. The livestream -> governmental audit -> press conference were all, to some extent, steps building up to an escape.
Even the press conference itself was planned before NewJeans received HYBE’s response to their contents certification. It’s obvious what all roads lead to. They only needed time to create a justification, but the outcome had been pre-decided.
And Min Hee-jin was busy on her end as well.
9. Min Sung-il (Min Hee-jin + Ahn Sung-il) is a combination which Min Hee-jin detests.
Why? Perhaps because she believes that FIFTY FIFTY (plotting with Ahn Sung-il) did the betraying, while NewJeans (with herself) were actually themselves betrayed. She intensely dislikes comparisons between Ahn and herself.
There is a chance she was aware of controversies surrounding “tampering.” When rumors swirled speculating that she would be receiving an investment from DAVOLINK, Min attempted to avoid the war by winning a battle, poison the well to preemptively ridicule any who would question her, and claim that everything was an unfounded rumor.
“I want to make clear that I have never come into contact with or held discussions with any party. Out of concern that innocent victims may arise and that HYBE may once again exploit this as a matter of dispute, I am clearly stating my position to preemptively quash any false rumors from emerging, so please do not misunderstand.” (Min Hee-jin’s statement)
Lies again.
10. Min Hee-jin met with ‘DAVOLINK’
On September 30th, Min Hee-jin met with the company owner “A.” The two were introduced by “B,” a paternal uncle of one of the NewJeans’ members.
‘Dispatch’ was able to capture the scene where Min Hee-jin, chairman A, and Uncle B met. It was a moment that confirmed the rumors concerning Min Hee-jin’s true nature.
Min Hee-jin visited chairman A’s home in the Cheongdam district, traveling in a KIA Carnival sent by “B.” The three met for over three hours at A’s home “H” Villa.
“Would I be able to take NewJeans [out of ADOR]?”
Those were the exact words spoken by Min Hee-jin, according to chairman “A” as told to ‘Dispatch.’ Chairman A further explained that it appeared “as though Min Hee-jin and ‘B’ were already preparing to leave HYBE.”
Are the “tampering” allegations wholly irrelevant? At the time [of the meeting] Min Hee-jin was still a member of ADOR’s board of directors. NewJeans’ contract is set to end on July 31, 2029. Her actions constitute prior contact before the expiration of the contract.
Of course, it is tampering if you succeed, it is (merely) a meeting if you fail.*
*A reference to a line from the movie “12.12: The Day” in which the leader of a military coup declares, “It’s a revolution if you succeed, and treason if you fail.”
Uncle “B” at the house of chairman “A”
11. Uncle B was the Magical Matchmaker
“B” is a family member of one of the NewJeans’ members, whom Min Hee-jin calls “ahbunnim” (father). He was the one who introduced Min to chairman “A” to probe his intentions to invest.
“‘B’ contacted me first, asking if I could invest about 5 billion KRW ($3.56 million). The two appeared to have been closely communicating regarding investment.” (Chairman A)
In reality, “B” was a very busy man. He met with Min Hee-jin, and again with the NewJeans’ family members as well, and briefed chairman “A” on the situation.
“He (‘B’) told me they were searching for investors. That’s why we agreed to meet. I explained two different structures to them. We talked about a good number of things over three hours.” (Chairman “A”)
12. ‘DAVOLINK’ answered first.
According to the Data Analysis, Retrieval and Transfer System run by the Financial Supervisory Service, “DAVOLINK” had given notice on October 2nd of the appointment of new members to the board. This was two days after the meeting with Min.
Lee XX: ‘DAVOLINK’ new director.
“Next to Min Hee-jin is Lee XX and Park XX. These two were appointed to the board. Why would we have appointed them to the board if we didn’t hold discussions regarding investment that day (September 30th)?” (Chairman “A”)
But the board meeting never happened, due to Min Hee-jin’s denials that she had met with “DAVOLINK.” Chairman “A” removed the two from the list of directors.
No one knows the truth–whether Min Hee-jin changed her mind, or if it was all a farce orchestrated by “B.” According to Chairman “A”, “I’ve never been toyed with like this,” he complained to ‘Dispatch.’
“They were the ones who wanted to meet and even visited me at my home. But to say that we’d never come into contact with one another? Due to her lies, our stock price plummeted fifty percent. I am appalled.” (Chairman “A”)
13. The Bullshit asymmetry principle
Coined by a famous Italian programmer, the bullshit asymmetry principle, also known as Brandolini’s law, refers to the ease of creating misinformation in comparison to the difficulty of debunking it thereafter.
“I want to make clear that I have never come into contact with or held discussions with any party.” (Min Hee-jin’s statement)
Min Hee-jin seems prone to losing her memory whenever a situation arises that may affect her negatively, making statements like “How could I remember a Kakaotalk conversation from three years ago?”
(However, her infamous “– fatass” Kakaotalk was not from three years ago, but three months.)
In September of this year, ‘Dispatch’ received a tip that “Min Hee-jin was meeting with representatives of publicly listed companies.” Because we are familiar with her methods, we had no choice but to approach this matter carefully and invest more of our energy.
In order to prove her duplicity, ‘Dispatch’ has poured its energy into something more.
“I hit on — so hard LOL”
“I sat close to —, told — to come closer so I could hear better.”
“I think I could get — to totally fall for me if I sleep with them one time…”
“It’s not that I mean to sleep my way to the top…I’m just saying that if it could ease the ride there, one time’s not bad.”
14. For example, (improper) batting of eyelashes to top HYBE executives
In 2021, Min Hee-jin brought over NewJeans from Source Music. She did so at the time through unconventional and unethical methods.
Min Hee-jin’s views on work, the workplace, and women are abnormal. She does not care about methods or means when trying to get what she wants. (But, sexual favors are not one of them, she says.)
“I hit on —(HYBE high level executive) so hard. I sat close to—, told — to come closer so I could hear better.”
“It’s not that I mean to sleep my way to the top…I’m just saying that if it could ease the ride there, one time’s not bad”
“I think I could get — to totally fall for me if I sleep with them one time…” (Min Hee-jin, 2021.07)
Min Hee-jin attempted a love spell on 4-5 men who could be of use to her. Her shaman attempted a ritual that goes into(?) the bodies of those men.
However, Min’s flirtations with “gaejusshi” were unsuccessful, ending with him blocking her. However, she did obtain results. She succeeded in bringing NewJeans with her to ADOR.
15. Was it really that bad?
“One person’s malice should not damage the “essence of the industry.” It was terrible.” (Resignation letter)
Does Min Hee-jin have a right to discuss the essence of the industry? She gained possession over the gems discovered by Source Music through abnormal methods. Not through (according to her own words) good and honest labor, but through flirtatiousness.
Does she have a right to discuss the essence of the industry? Min Hee-jin used NewJeans as her shield. She utilized the sword of “livestream,” and the spear of “governmental audit.” Through her glory gained, NewJeans gained injury.
Truly, does she have a right to discuss the essence of the industry? She created new machinations from behind the scenes, always claiming “unfounded rumors” whenever people began whispering. Ever is she instigating the populace by labeling everything as “HYBE’s attacks,” or “media play.” If we did not have these photos in our possession, we would have been forced to suffer her attacks once again.
There is an idiom commonly (and mistakenly) attributed to Paul Joseph Goebbels, who was the propaganda master of Nazi Germany.*
“Propaganda can be achieved with a single sentence, but refuting it requires dozens of pages of documents and evidence. And even before the refutation is made, people have already been swayed by it.”
*We at 3Z were unable to find the exact idiom the journalist was referring to in English. Though we’ve included the text from the original article, we’ve added an idiom that is often (and mistakenly) attributed to Goebbels, and another, though not attributed to Goebbels, which has a meaning similar to the journalist’s original quote.
“A lie told once remains a lie, but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth.” – (unknown, though often attributed to Goebbels, no evidence exists whether he actually created this saying)
“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” (unknown, though often attributed to Mark Twain)
A prior version of the article stated that two men had been named to the board of DAVOLINK, but those named to the board were one man and one woman. The latest version has been edited to reflect that change.
A second edit was made in section 5 to more accurately word Min Hee-jin’s Telegram messages to the NewJeans family member.
Read more here about the identities of “Lee XX” and “Park XX”:
Source:
