Min Hee-jin, former CEO of ADOR, appeared in court as a witness in the lawsuit filed by ADOR against advertising production company Dolphin Kidnappers over alleged damages related to NewJeans’ “ETA” music video director’s cut.
During her testimony, Min Hee-jin defended the creative decisions made under her leadership, emphasizing industry norms and the importance of creative flexibility.
The Seoul Central District Court held the hearing on November 11 regarding ADORE’s claim of 1.1 billion KRW against Dolphin Kidnappers and director Shin Woo-seok. A key issue is whether posting the “director’s cut” of NewJeans’ “ETA” on Dolphin Kidnappers’ channel violated a service contract. ADOR argues that the unauthorized post caused financial loss, while Dolphin Kidnappers claims verbal agreements were made.
Min Hee-jin, who led ADOR during the production of the “ETA” music video, stated she was the party responsible for any verbal agreements, asserting that posting the director’s cut did not breach any contract. She emphasized that verbal coordination is common in the industry, particularly with creative works where ideas evolve continuously. Min Hee-jin highlighted her use of the “One-Source Multi-Use” method, arguing that obtaining written approval for every modification would be impractical.
The director’s cut included additional scenes not in the main video. Min Hee-jin described the ending as “shocking” and open to interpretation, aligning with director Shin Woo-seok’s creative vision. She also noted that Apple, a production partner, only opposed including the new ending in the main video, not the director’s cut.
ADOR questioned the decision to post the director’s cut on Dolphin Kidnappers’ channel instead of ADOR’s official channel, citing potential lost revenue due to lower subscriber counts. Min Hee-jin explained that her intention was to make the release engaging, noting that fans reacted enthusiastically because the content was released on an indie channel, creating a unique experience.
The plaintiffs also raised concerns about potential favoritism, suggesting Dolphin Kidnappers may have benefited disproportionately from NewJeans projects. Min Hee-jin rejected this, explaining that director Shin Woo-seok underpaid his staff and that accusations of favoritism were false.
During her testimony, Min Hee-jin’s remarks occasionally prompted the judge to intervene. When she referred to ADOR’s claims as “stupid and ridiculous,” the court cautioned, “Please refrain from such expressions.” She also expressed personal frustrations, claiming, “There were many schemes to harass me” and “They were desperate to remove me,” prompting the judge to respond, “Witness, we understand.”
Min Hee-jin’s testimony sheds light on the creative processes behind NewJeans’ “ETA” director’s cut and the ongoing dispute over content control, highlighting the tension between artistic decisions and contractual obligations.
Sources: Sports Seoul
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