The Inside Story of Min Hee-jin Taking NewJeans
On March 27th, 2021, the debut evaluation for Team N (now known as NewJeans) took place
Seven trainees from Source Music, including Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, Hyein and two others, competed for a spot in the debut lineup with the song “Attention”.
Source Music had been preparing for a new girl group since 2018, named Team N, with the goal of debuting in the third quarter of 2021.
Min Hee-jin joined the project as a creator in 2019, overseeing visuals and concept, while Source Music handled management, singing and dance training.
The first result of this effort was the debut evaluation video released in 2021, where Team N showed promise with “Attention”.
However, the debut was indefinitely postponed, leading to questions about whether it was due to negligence by Source Music or Min Hee-jin.
◆ A Mismatch
Bang Si-hyuk and So Sung-jin wanted to reshape the girl group landscape through Min Hee-jin.
Despite her reluctance to join the project initially due to the lack of control, she eventually accepted the role because of her position as HYBE’s CBO, overseeing branding for HYBE and its labels.
However, the collaboration was problematic. Min Hee-jin wanted more authority over the project’s branding, music and performance, while So Sung-jin of Source Music held the final decision-making power. Despite multiple adjustments to her role, the project stalled, leading to questions about Min Hee-jin’s true intentions.
◆ Hidden Motives?
Team N was ready for debut with “Attention”, but Min Hee-jin delayed providing crucial branding materials, which were only in her mind. This delay led to speculation about her ulterior motives, including potential plans to manage the group under her own label.
Throughout 2021, despite repeated attempts by Source Music to arrange meetings and finalize plans, Min Hee-jin continuously postponed. This period coincided with her frequent consultations with a shaman, indicating other priorities.
◆ A Misalignment of Goals
Source Music had meticulously scouted and trained the members of Team N, aiming for a third-quarter 2021 debut. However, the delays from Min Hee-jin’s side led to prolonged uncertainty. By mid-2021, despite their original plans, Source Music had to reconsider their strategy, prioritizing the debut of Team S (later known as LE SSERAFIM).
◆ Conclusion
Min Hee-jin’s approach and delays significantly impacted Team N’s debut timeline. Despite Source Music’s efforts and plans, the project was overshadowed by misaligned goals and internal conflicts. Eventually, Team N was transferred to Min Hee-jin’s label ADOR, with Team S debuting first in May 2022.
Min Hee-jin’s narrative portrays her as a key figure in NewJeans‘ formation, while Source Music argues that delays and unmet deadlines were due to her actions. This conflict resulted in a legal dispute over the management and debut process of the group.
