NewJeans

NewJeans (뉴진스) is a South Korean Girl Group that debuted in 2022. They consist of 5 members: Danielle, Haerin, Hanni, Hyein and Minji.

They are the 3rd most streamed artist in Korea.

NewJeans are recognized for their distinct "easy listening" music style and natural, youthful concept.

The formation of NewJeans began following Min Hee-jin's appointment as CBO (Chief Brand Officer) of HYBE Corporation in 2019. Min Hee-jin, a highly acclaimed creative director known for her work at SM Entertainment, was given full creative control to launch a new girl group under a new independent label, which eventually became ADOR. The global auditions for the group were held between October 2019 and January 2020. Casting took place across multiple countries, and by the end of 2020, the final lineup of the five members was confirmed. The members underwent a rigorous training period under Min Hee-jin's direct guidance, focusing on developing their musicality, performance skills, and unique artistic identity.

NewJeans had a distinctive pre-debut strategy that set them apart from traditional K-pop group launches. Instead of lengthy teasers and promotional cycles, the group opted for a surprise debut. They officially released the music video for their first lead single, "Attention," on July 22, 2022, without any prior warning or promotional content. This unconventional "release first, promote later" approach immediately generated significant buzz and curiosity within the industry and among fans.

The meteoric success of the group was eventually hit by one of the biggest scandal/controversies of modern K-Pop industry.

-

The dispute between HYBE Corporation and its subsidiary ADOR, primarily involving ADOR's CEO Min Hee-jin and the girl group NewJeans, became publicly known in April 2024. This quickly escalated into a high-profile corporate battle, exposing significant disagreements over management control, intellectual property, and creative direction.

The controversy began when HYBE initiated an audit of ADOR, alleging that Min Hee-jin and other ADOR executives were attempting to usurp management control of the subsidiary and separate NewJeans from HYBE's oversight. HYBE claimed to have found evidence, including internal documents and communications, suggesting a plot to seize control by creating a separate entity or by pressuring HYBE to sell its majority stake in ADOR. HYBE holds an 80% stake in ADOR, while Min Hee-jin holds 18%.

Min Hee-jin vehemently denied these allegations, often doing so with emotional public statements. She accused HYBE and its subsidiary BELIFT LAB of plagiarizing NewJeans' concept and aesthetic for their new girl group, ILLIT. She further accused Le Sserafim, also from another HYBE subsidiary, of having plagiarized aspects of NewJeans, and extended her criticism to other artists. Min Hee-jin also argued that the audit was a pretext to remove her and that HYBE was engaging in media manipulation, despite her own frequent public appearances and online statements attacking HYBE.

The dispute quickly transformed into a public spectacle, with both sides releasing statements and counter-statements. A notable aspect of the controversy was the differing reactions: within Korea, public opinion leaned more towards Min Hee-jin, while international fans, lacking prior attachments to her, viewed the entire situation as a symbol of the complicated dynamics between parent companies and their subsidiaries in the K-pop industry, raising questions about artist protection, creative ownership, and corporate governance. This scenario also highlighted how the intense influence of a single tutor over young naive teenage artists could potentially backfire, impacting both the group members and the company when such relationships become entangled in corporate disputes.

As the legal battles unfolded, the members decided to publicly side with Min Hee-jin, whom they reportedly viewed as a "mother figure", and attempted to promote as a separate group from ADOR named "NJZ" (which was eventually legally blocked). This action caused further division among fans and within the industry, pushing the boundaries of what was permitted or not within idol contracts.

The public nature of the dispute, with both sides airing their grievances, also sparked broader discussions about the treatment of creators and the power structures within entertainment conglomerates.

After over a year of dispute and inflated discussion, in November 2025 all members agreed to return to ADOR and stop the legal action and "strike". Although they returned, the whole situation represents a significant loss for both the artists and their fanbase. It is unclear if the group can now continue as usual.