A major dispute has erupted within the K-pop industry this week as HYBE, the Korean entertainment giant known for managing superstar group BTS, filed a police report against ADOR, its own subsidiary label. The conflict arose after accusations that ADOR was attempting to break away from HYBE in order to independently manage the popular girl group NewJeans. HYBE also requested ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin to step down, alleging that the subsidiary leaked confidential information to secure investors to facilitate the breakaway.
In response to HYBE’s accusations, Min denied the allegations and claimed that HYBE was attempting to dismiss her because she had raised concerns about plagiarism by another HYBE-backed group, ILLIT, against NewJeans. HYBE proceeded to announce that they would file a police report against Min for breach of trust and related allegations, citing evidence uncovered during an audit that suggested Min had ordered ADOR executives to pressure HYBE to sell its ADOR shares.
The conflict stems from HYBE’s unique multilabel system, where multiple record labels operate under the same umbrella and often compete with each other. NewJeans, the group at the center of the dispute, debuted in 2022 under ADOR and quickly rose to success in South Korea and internationally. The group’s success has led to tensions within HYBE, with the recent allegations of attempted independence by ADOR causing significant turmoil within the company.
The dispute has had consequences beyond just the internal workings of HYBE, with the company’s share price dropping approximately 12% since the conflict came to light. The situation has highlighted the potential challenges of managing multiple successful artists under a single entertainment giant, particularly in an industry as competitive and fast-paced as K-pop. As the situation continues to unfold, all eyes will be on how HYBE and ADOR navigate this conflict and its potential impact on NewJeans’ upcoming music releases.
Despite the ongoing drama, NewJeans is set to release new music in the coming months, with two singles scheduled for May. The group’s music video for one of the upcoming singles premiered on Friday, indicating that the label dispute is not expected to hinder their music releases. As one of the hottest acts in K-pop at the moment, NewJeans’ continued success will be closely watched by fans and industry insiders alike, as they navigate through this challenging period in their career.
