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NewJeans: The Controversy Surrounding Them

Tatum Crawford, Editor

September 25, 2024

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – SEPTEMBER 03: Lee Hye-In aka Hyein, Haerin, Danielle, Hanni and Minji of girl group NewJeans attend a photocall for YOUSER at Seoul Fashion Week S/S 2025 at DDP on September 03, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/WireImage)

NewJeans – a K-pop girl group made up of members Hanni, Danielle, Hyein, Minji, and Haerin – has grabbed the world’s attention since their debut song, Ditto. Having sold over 4.39 million albums, the group continues to break records. However, they have been caught in the crossfire of a controversy involving their labor, ADOR, and its head company, HYBE. The dispute began with the sudden firing of ADOR’s CEO, Min Hee-jin, who is widely recognized for creating NewJeans’ persona. Hee-jin was an important part of the group, shaping their early success, and had a guaranteed five-year term as their CEO. However, HYBE’s decision to dismiss her led to a legal battle, as Lee-jin filed an appeal, claiming that her termination violated her contract.

NewJeans has not been silent about this, they have been publicly supporting their former CEO, which is a rare thing to see in the K-pop industry because most idols tend to avoid taking sides with corporate disputes. The group proposed a requisition, demanding Hee-jin’s return by the end of September 2024. They have also voiced their resentment for ADOR’s new leadership, citing concerns over “subtle bullying” and a hostile work environment.

Min Hee-jin’s influence on NewJeans is undeniable and her departure has raised concerns on the group’s future, as many fans fear this will be the end of NewJeans.Ultimately the outcome of this conflict could have severe consequences, not only for NewJeans but for the entire K-pop industry. Artist freedom, fan loyalty, and corporate organization are being yes in this tense debate, and the ending will likely shape the future of these relationships in K-pop.

About the Contributor

Tatum Crawford, Editor

Senior, Tatum Crawford, joined The Paper Cut last year to grow her interpersonal and writing skills. Tatum enjoys traveling and sightseeing, especially with her mom, who she is very close to as it was just her and her mom for 12 years. Her ideal places to visit are Milan and Florence, where she found an appreciation for the food and art. She enjoys art museums, her favorite ones being the Louvre and the Uffizi Gallery. Tatum plays many games, especially Animal Crossing and Legend Of Zelda. She adores taking pictures; she has over 30,000 photos on her phone - most of them being travel and cat photos. Family is also super important to Tatum. She loves visiting her family in Mississippi and spending time with them. She has family scattered all around the world, including eighteen siblings. She's only met about four so far but would be interested in meeting the rest. Out of all of them, she is the youngest, as they are in their late twenties. When she graduates, Tatum wants to move to Seattle with her older sister to attend her dream college - the University of Washington. Her other option is NAU. Regardless of where she goes, she wants to study medicine.