HYBE, Korea's No. 1 music agency, has launched an audit of the management of its affiliated label Ador, the agency of the leading K-pop girl group New Jeans.
HYBE believes that Ador CEO Min Hee-jin is trying to become independent from the headquarters and has started collecting related information.
According to the music industry on the 22nd, HYBE began an audit of CEO Min Hee-jin and one of the Ador executives earlier in the day.
The audit team reportedly visited the executive work area to retrieve the company's computerized assets and secured face-to-face statements.
An official from HYBE said, "It is true that the audit rights were invoked against the Ador executives due to the suspicion of taking control of the company."
It is reported that HYBE suspects that the executives are trying to take independent action by taking control of management.
Ador is a label under HYBE established by CEO Min in 2021 and has an 80% stake in HYBE. The remaining 20% is owned by Ador's executives, including CEO Min.
HYBE is reportedly planning to take legal action if necessary after analyzing the computerized assets secured that day.
CEO Min Hee-jin is a star producer who gained fame in the music industry for his original colors and expressions by taking charge of concepts and branding of famous idol groups such as Girls' Generation, SHINee, and EXO at SM Entertainment in the past.
After moving to HYBE, she also took charge of branding and design of Yongsan's new office building.
New Jeans debuted under the leadership of CEO Min and made a series of hit songs such as "Hype Boy," "Attention," "Ditto" and "OMG."
New Jeans' relaxed music and unique "Y2K" sentiment have been praised as a game changer in the music industry. Not only did New Jeans won the grand prize at various music award ceremonies in Korea, but they also ranked No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard main album chart.
CEO Min has won the Seoul City Culture Award, the Golden Disc Producer Award, and the 2023 "WOMEN IN MUSIC" for these achievements.
New Jeans is set to make a comeback next month.
<Photo=Ador>
<Translated by=Meenyoung Lee>
