Min Hee-jin, who was removed as CEO amid a management dispute with HYBE, has signaled an independent move tied to her recently established entertainment agency, OK.
On Feb. 3, Min posted a photo on social media with the message, “20260205 10AM Coming soon.”
The image shows a satin shirt bearing the OK Records logo. It also includes the label’s website and social media addresses.
Visitors to the website see an animation in which images shaped like eyes, a nose and a mouth change as a whistling sound plays.
Min-produced group NewJeans held an emergency news conference on Nov. 28, 2024, saying their demands for corrective action were not accepted and declaring they would leave ADOR. The members said their exclusive contracts would be terminated as of 12 a.m. on Nov. 29, 2024. They later prepared to promote independently under the new name “NJZ,” but the plan fell through.
During the dispute, the members compared ADOR to “a dad who committed domestic violence” and HYBE to “a school bully,” underscoring the rift. A court later granted an injunction to preserve the agency’s status and bar advertising contracts, halting the group’s independent activities.
Min established a new corporate entity, OK, on Oct. 16 last year and completed formal registration, making her independent path clear. OK Records later posted a nonpublic audition notice in December and began work on producing an idol group; Min has also said she plans to produce a boy band.
Since then, members Haerin and Hyein returned to ADOR first, and Hanni also decided to work with ADOR. Minji is in talks with ADOR, but Danielle’s exclusive contract has been terminated. ADOR says Danielle’s mother is a key helper in suspected tampering involving Min.
Earlier this month, ADOR filed a lawsuit seeking a total of 43.1 billion won in penalties and damages against Min, Danielle and Danielle’s family.
Min has denied the “NewJeans tampering” allegations that sparked the legal fight. At a news conference on Jan. 28, Min’s side claimed a family member of one of the NewJeans members was involved in the suspected tampering and said Min bears no responsibility.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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