Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin has offered the first concrete details about the debut plans for her new company, OOAK Records, confirming that the label’s first act will be a boy group crafted fully under her own creative direction.
Min Hee-jin appeared on the December 4 episode of the YouTube show “Genre Only” and openly discussed the status of her new agency following her departure from ADOR.
Min Hee-jin explained that OOAK Records has been legally established, but operations have not fully begun. “Only the corporation has been created. There are people who want to work with me, staff members too, but we’re not going into the office yet.”
She added that investors — both domestic and international — have been contacting her continuously ever since news of the new company surfaced. “A lot of people have reached out wanting to invest. In a way, it’s been a blessing in disguise.”
Recently, media outlets reported that OOAK Records had begun in-person auditions. Min Hee-jin corrected the misunderstanding. “An academy held its own audition and used our label’s name as if it were an audition I conducted. That was misleading. They simply included our label in their list. I appreciate the interest, but I have my own launch plans.”
She emphasized that she wants to introduce the new group on her terms: “I want to present the label and its artists in my own way — stylishly, properly.”
Min Hee-jin confirmed that OOAK Records’ first group will indeed be a boy group. “I probably won’t produce another girl group for a while. That’s not in my plans right now.
When I used to make girl groups, the next project was always a boy group — so I want to show something new again.”
Her comments signal a fresh artistic direction distinct from her previous work with NewJeans and other female-centered projects.
Previously, according to a December 3 report by SPOTV News, Min Hee-jin’s newly founded company, OOAK Records, will hold a closed in-person audition on December 7 at one of Korea’s top-tier dance studios. This audition signals the first major step in assembling a new group of trainees.
Min Hee-jin founded OOAK Records this October and completed its corporate registration soon after. The agency is located in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, where Min Hee-jin has also secured a building to house the label’s operations.
Registered as a company involved in celebrity management, music and album production, music distribution, performance planning, and brand management, OOAK Records has Min Hee-jin listed as an internal director.
She recently made her company’s formation public by issuing press releases under the OOAK Records name during the third court hearing of her ongoing legal battle against HYBE. The lawsuit centers on a put option claim and the termination of her shareholder agreement with HYBE.
The upcoming audition marks OOAK Records’ intent to build a new team from scratch, effectively positioning itself as a post-NewJeans production house. The audition is open to applicants born between 2006 and 2011, regardless of gender or nationality, suggesting the company is open to forming both a girl group and a boy group.
The dance studio selected for auditions is one of Korea’s “Big Three,” previously featured in Mnet’s Street Dance Girls Fighter 2 and frequented by top-tier talent. Jam Republic’s leader Kirsten once noted it as her first studio experience in Korea. Kyoka, leader of World of Street Woman Fighter winner Osaka Ojo Gang, has also taught special classes there, and NewJeans’ performance director BLACK.Q has provided instruction at the venue.
Meanwhile, Min Hee-jin recently appeared in court, expressing deep distress over her dismissal from ADOR, stating, “It felt like hell, but I endured it because of NewJeans.” She insisted, “I managed ADOR with transparency and integrity. There was no wrongdoing on my part. That’s why I’m doing everything I can. I had no reason to be dismissed,” asserting that HYBE’s actions amounted to an unjust audit.
In contrast, NewJeans has declared their return to ADOR. Members Haerin and Hyein have officially resumed activities following extensive discussions with the agency. While Danielle, Minji, and Hanni reportedly made independent decisions to return and held individual meetings with ADOR, the final outcome regarding their reinstatement has yet to be publicly disclosed.
Sources: Daum
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