Uncertainty for K-Pop band after failed ultimatum

The future of the K-Pop band NewJeans is currently in a state of uncertainty following their public complaints against their record label, Hybe. NewJeans, a girl group that debuted in 2022, quickly gained popularity with their unique sound that draws inspiration from the 90s, reminiscent of iconic groups like TLC, SWV, and En Vogue. Recently, the quintet hosted a surprise livestream on YouTube, where they candidly expressed their dissatisfaction with Hybe and the decision to remove their producer, Min Hee-jin, from her position. The group issued an ultimatum, demanding that Min be reinstated by September 25. However, as the deadline passed, Hybe rejected their request, leaving the future of NewJeans in question. The band is currently bound by a seven-year contract that extends until 2029, but they have indicated their reluctance to continue under the existing circumstances. This situation is particularly unusual in the tightly controlled world of K-Pop, where artists often have little say in their careers. NewJeans' decision to speak out came after months of internal struggles at Hybe, one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies, which the members described as leaving them feeling 'anxious' and 'in a state of shock. ' The drama began in April when Hybe announced an audit of ADOR, the company that formed NewJeans, and its CEO Min Hee-jin. Reports indicated that the audit involved searches of computers within ADOR's offices in Seoul. Hybe later accused Min of corporate espionage, claiming she had plotted a hostile takeover with outside investors to manage NewJeans and ADOR independently. Min denied these allegations, asserting that Hybe was retaliating after she raised concerns about another group, ILLIT, allegedly copying NewJeans' identity, styling, choreography, and music video concepts. In May, a court granted Min an injunction that prevented Hybe from terminating her employment. However, in August, ADOR announced that she would be stepping down. Initial reports suggested that Min would continue to work as a producer for NewJeans, but she later rejected that offer, stating that Hybe's terms were 'unreasonable. ' Following Min's departure, NewJeans members Hanni, Minji, and Danielle took to the NewJeans community app to share their frustrations and disappointment with fans. Minji expressed her feelings of frustration for not being able to resolve the situation, saying, 'I am so sorry that we’re going through this unnecessary trouble when there’s already not enough time in the day to focus on the good things. ' Despite the turmoil, the band continued their promotional activities, including launching a new campaign as the faces of Calvin Klein. On September 11, the same day they received nominations for two MTV Awards, they took the unprecedented step of creating their own YouTube channel and posting a 27-minute video titled 'What NewJeans Wanted To Say. ' In the video, dressed in black and reading a prepared statement, the five members accused Hybe of fostering a toxic work environment and reiterated their demand for Min's reinstatement. They also addressed a leak that resulted in their medical records being shared online, with Hanni claiming that the manager of another girl group at Hybe had instructed its members to 'ignore her' when they encountered her at the company's headquarters. They concluded the video by setting a deadline of September 25 for Min's reinstatement, stating, 'What we want is the original ADOR, where CEO Min Heejin integrates management and producing. ' They expressed hope that their message would reach Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk and that Hybe would wisely restore ADOR to its original state by the deadline. When the deadline arrived, Hybe announced that they would not honor NewJeans' request. However, ADOR stated that Min could continue as both an internal director at ADOR and as NewJeans' producer. 'The board has resolved to convene an extraordinary shareholders' meeting to reappoint Min Hee-jin as an internal director,' ADOR said in an official statement. 'However, the board cannot accept the request for her reinstatement as CEO at this time. Min Hee-jin's role and authority as the producer for NewJeans are fully guaranteed, and further discussions on specific terms will take place in the future. ' The K-Pop agency also claimed it had 'made an offer to Min Hee-jin to stay on as the producer of NewJeans for the next five years, which is the whole duration of the girl group’s contract,' adding that it is 'looking forward to talking through the detailed conditions of the deal in the future. ' As for what happens next, it remains unclear whether the band will accept the new arrangement, which Hybe likely hopes will be seen as a reasonable compromise. However, the band has yet to comment on the deal, and Min immediately issued a press release once again requesting her reinstatement as CEO to ensure the continued success of her artists. Korean media have suggested that if NewJeans choose not to accept Hybe's terms, they might seek legal grounds for contract violations to escape their deal or even pay a substantial penalty to terminate their contract. K-Pop fans are watching closely, eager to see how this situation unfolds.