I tried to condense the more hours long conference in just a page picking up on the key points. The folks are Korea JoongAng Daily did an excellent job covering the event. Check them out!

Min Hee-jin, the CEO of ADOR and producer of the girl group NewJeans, held a press conference addressing the conflict with HYBE. Here’s a summary of the key points:

• Allegations: HYBE accused Min Hee-jin of breach of trust and conspiring against the company. They claimed to have found evidence that she instructed staff to gather hostile information about HYBE.
• Response: Min Hee-jin emotionally refuted the allegations, stating that all she did was make an internal report about the ILLIT plagiarism issue and expected it to be formally addressed. She mentioned that HYBE’s response was to audit and raid ADOR.
• Clarifications: She clarified that conversations with her vice CEO were taken out of context and were not serious. She also dismissed the idea of courting sovereign wealth funds as a joke.
• Accusations of Copying: Min Hee-jin accused HYBE of copying NewJeans’ concept, which she argued violated the cultural achievements of ADOR. She demanded recognition and improvement from HYBE.
• Emotional Toll: She expressed the emotional toll the conflict has taken on her, questioning the public’s perception and asserting her innocence.

The press conference was a significant event, shedding light on the ongoing dispute between ADOR and HYBE, with implications for the management and rights of artists within the industry.

In the end, we choose the side of the artist. From NewJeans, BTS, Le Serrafim, ILLIT, and all others mentioned. We are all fans of good music and regardless of who you are a fan of, we can all agree their welfare should be the top priority.