'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' → 'Daily News Interview' → 'Hyundai Card'... Min Hee-jin's Time Eating Up All Issues [Jo Eun-byeol's ★★ Letter]

source: https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/468/0001096118

TLDR:

Min Hee-jin, former CEO of ADOR, recently criticized HYBE, claiming they tried to undermine her and went against their original promise of independence. She hinted that HYBE used an overseas PR agency to spread negative information about her. Meanwhile, some question the credibility of a reporter who defended NewJeans’ achievements with incorrect facts, suggesting bias. Min Hee-jin's bold statements have reignited industry attention, but her return has overshadowed NewJeans’ attempts to address their issues. Despite controversies, Min Hee-jin's PR skills allowed her to gain sympathy.

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Min Hee-jin is back in the spotlight. The former CEO of ADOR, who had been silent for a while, has once again made waves with her comments.

In an interview with a local newspaper on the 26th, Min Hee-jin claimed, "The core issue here is the public execution of a subsidiary president who dared to challenge the parent company's wishes." She added that this situation was completely different from the promise of independence for the "Min Hee-jin Label" that Chairman Bang Si-hyuk had assured her when she joined HYBE (formerly Big Hit). She further mentioned hearing from a Billboard insider that HYBE had even hired an overseas PR agency to spread negative information about her.

Interestingly, a former reporter pretending to still be a reporter for the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy personnel appeared on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" the day before and claimed, "HYBE’s PR team is downplaying NewJeans’ success." This was the same radio show that Min Hee-jin appeared on after the controversial press conference in April.

It's rumored that even within CBS, there was a supportive attitude toward Min Hee-jin. However, the reporter misrepresented himself and shared one-sided statements that favored her, which led to criticism of poor fact-checking.

The "Min Hee-jin vs. HYBE" saga has become so overblown that it’s hard to discern the truth anymore. Nevertheless, it’s notable that Min Hee-jin chose to give a newspaper interview at this moment. Although she had previously responded through the PR agency Macol, this time, she selected a prominent daily newspaper and seemed to face only favorable questions. After her appearance on "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" on the 25th and the newspaper interview on the 26th, she was scheduled to be a guest at Hyundai Card's "Da Vinci Motel" on the 27th. Given her tendency to make bold statements, the entire music industry is eagerly watching to see what she'll say next.

However, with Min Hee-jin back in the spotlight, the genuine efforts by NewJeans members to address the situation seemed to have been overshadowed. Regarding the claim by member Hani about being "ignored" by a girl group manager, many in the music industry commented, "If there’s no real problem, why be so affected by a simple remark?"

In an industry full of dramatic controversies, the idea that the term "ignore" could be considered "bullying" seems excessive, especially when compared to the experiences of another ADOR employee who allegedly left due to more severe issues like sexual harassment. It appears Min Hee-jin, despite her brilliance in PR and planning, might struggle to empathize with others' feelings.

Speaking of Hani, there's more to add. A former reporter on "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" stated that "1.02 million copies of NewJeans' album were sold in Japan alone." When the reporter’s inaccurate sales facts were challenged, it felt like he was just another fan trying to defend NewJeans.

While NewJeans has had an impressive year, many wonder if anyone outside their dedicated fanbase truly remembers the songs they released. It's arguable that their most memorable performance this year was Hani’s rendition of "Blue Coral Reef" at their Tokyo Dome fan meeting.

In a country like South Korea, where political debates are constant, watching these die-hard NewJeans fans feels contradictory. Meanwhile, Min Hee-jin’s PR skills have been so effective that even her own controversies seem forgotten. I have to acknowledge her talent.