Min Hee-jin’s camp, which has repeatedly said it wants NewJeans to continue activities as a full group, flatly denied “tampering” allegations on the 28th, arguing the narrative didn’t originate with her but with “a family member of one NewJeans member, along with a business figure associated with a specific company.”
At a press conference in Seoul’s Jongno District, attorney Kim Sun-woong of law firm Jiam―representing the former ADOR CEO―cited Telegram messages and recorded calls to contend that Min was not the instigator trying to pull NewJeans away, “but rather someone who was nearly exploited by a coordinated plan from outside actors.”
Min did not attend the briefing. Kim said her absence was due to “significant shock after learning recent details involving a member’s family,” adding that she was “not in a condition to appear in person.”
According to Kim, around June 2024, the father of one NewJeans member told Min that his older brother had extensive connections and could handle negotiations with HYBE. Soon after, that older brother―referred to as the member’s “uncle” (her father’s older brother)―stepped to the forefront. Kim said that during those exchanges, names of certain companies, including Dabolink and TerraScience, began surfacing, and he played a call in which Min can be heard saying she had “never heard” of those firms.
Kim further alleged that on September 9, 2024―after Min was removed as ADOR’s CEO on August 27 and as NewJeans’ activities hung in the balance―the member’s uncle, identified only as Mr. Lee, showed Min Telegram messages with HYBE executive Shin Young-jae, touting his personal connection to him.
He added, “It appeared Mr. Lee and Park Jung-kyu were coordinating to make it seem Park had formidable political backing, in an attempt to manipulate Min into following their lead.” Min, however, did not trust Mr. Lee, Kim said, and separately met with HYBE CEO Lee Jae-sang on September 28, 2024.
Min’s side also claimed that in November 2024, they confronted Mr. Lee about a rumor tying Min to Dabolink. According to Kim, Mr. Lee had allegedly tried to capitalize on Dabolink as a so-called “NewJeans/Min Hee-jin theme stock,” and after Min rebuffed and blocked him, he was removed from Dabolink’s board. “Min never sought investment with Mr. Lee,” Kim said.
Explaining why these assertions are being made public now, Kim said there was “one reason” Min hadn’t pushed back sooner against what he called “false reporting” about NewJeans tampering engineered by a member’s family member and a business figure: “to protect the members and their families.” He added that Min feared public fallout could unfairly taint the group’s image and sow division among the members if such collusion―allegedly aimed at boosting a stock price and facilitating a corporate sale―became known.
Min also posed questions to HYBE, asking how and through whom Mr. Lee and Dabolink’s chairman allegedly learned―before September 29, 2024, when Min says she had no knowledge of Dabolink, TerraScience, or Chairman Park―that they would be able to approach her. She further asked why HYBE allegedly requested that a NewJeans family member testify about “Min Hee-jin’s tampering” in the company’s legal battle with her.
Kim characterized the controversy as “a nationwide con that sought to exploit K-pop―Korea’s pride―for unfair stock maneuvers,” claiming some media outlets “actively aided or turned a blind eye,” and that ADOR management and its major shareholder tried to leverage the allegations to gain an edge in litigation.
The briefing drew heightened attention as it coincided with news that ADOR has filed a hefty damages and penalty claim against Min, NewJeans member DANIELLE, and one family member.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)
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