On September 26th (local time), the BBC published an article titled “Uncertainty for K-Pop band after failed ultimatum”.
The article states, “After publicly expressing dissatisfaction with HYBE, the future of K-pop band NewJeans has become unclear,” noting that “2 weeks ago, NewJeans held a surprise live broadcast on YouTube where they discussed their grievances with the label and the decision to dismiss producer Min Hee-jin for nearly 30 minutes.” It also reported that “NewJeans sent an ultimatum demanding Min Hee-jin’s reinstatement by September 25. After the deadline passed, HYBE rejected the request, leaving uncertainty about NewJeans’ next steps.”
While the BBC speculated that this suggested a lack of willingness to continue under the current contract, Min Hee-jin had previously stated in an interview with a Japanese media outlet that she had greatly expanded NewJeans’ potential over seven years and revealed plans for a world tour.
If NewJeans were to terminate their exclusive contract, industry estimates suggest a penalty of around 500 billion won.
The BBC described this situation as “very unusual” in the highly controlled K-pop industry, where artists’ movements are managed down to the smallest detail. Additionally, it reported that “NewJeans has yet to comment on the contract, and Min Hee-jin has issued a press release asking for her return as CEO once again to ensure the artists’ continued success.” The BBC concluded, “K-pop fans are holding their breath and watching closely.”
Today (September 27th), she is scheduled to speak at the “2024 Hyundai Card Da Vinci Motel” event from 9 PM to 10:40 PM (KST). Earlier, in April, she drew significant attention by holding a press conference where she openly discussed her embezzlement allegations. Everyone is curious about what she will reveal in this upcoming lecture.
Source: TopStarNews, BBC
