NewJeans' Hanni Labor Ministry Case: Former ADOR CEO Min Heejin's Suspicious Communications Revealed

A series of Telegram messages from September 2023 have surfaced, revealing communications between former ADOR CEO Min Heejin and a NewJeans member's uncle regarding a labor ministry complaint. This development adds another layer to the ongoing controversy surrounding Min's departure from HYBE's subsidiary label ADOR.

On September 14, 2023, the uncle messaged Min about "starting something with the Labor Ministry," to which Min responded she would call later after receiving medical treatment. This conversation occurred just two days after NewJeans fans filed complaints with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, citing workplace harassment concerns involving member Hanni.

The harassment claims stemmed from Hanni's YouTube live stream on September 11, where she alleged that a manager of another artist at HYBE told their artist to "ignore her" when she attempted to greet them in the company building's hallway. The incident gained significant attention, leading to Hanni's appearance at a National Assembly audit in October 2023, where she testified that such treatment "wasn't a one-time occurrence."

The timing of these events is particularly noteworthy as it coincides with allegations that Min was in discussions with Dabo Link, an external investment company, about a potential ₩5 billion (approximately $3.7 million) investment deal that reportedly included talks about bringing NewJeans to a new company. The uncle mentioned in the Telegram messages was later nominated as an internal director at Dabo Link in November.

Industry experts suggest that while the Telegram messages alone don't conclusively prove direct involvement in labor ministry activities, the discussion of potentially damaging company matters between a producer and an artist's family member could constitute a violation of exclusive contract terms.

Min has denied these allegations, stating that the uncle contacted her suddenly and that she neither knew any labor ministry officials nor directed any related activities. She dismissed the accusations as "mere speculation."

Context for international readers:

• NewJeans is one of K-pop's most successful fourth-generation girl groups, managed by ADOR (All Doors One Room), a subsidiary of HYBE Corporation
• Min Heejin was the CEO of ADOR and is credited with creating NewJeans' concept and success
• The "tampering" mentioned in the original article refers to the practice of approaching artists or their representatives who are under exclusive contracts with other companies
• HYBE is one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies, also known for managing BTS and other prominent K-pop acts

The Ministry of Employment and Labor ultimately dismissed the harassment complaint in November 2023, stating that Hanni did not qualify as an employee under Korea's Labor Standards Act.