While Adore executives, including CEO Min Hee-jin, are suspected of 'attempting to leave Hive', CEO Min refuted that he had been notified of dismissal by Hive when he raised the issue of 'Islet's New Genes copy incident'.
On the 22nd, Hive began an audit of its affiliated label, ADOR, CEO Min Hee-jin and Ador executive A. It is reported that personnel from the Hive audit team visited Adore's management work area this morning, retrieved the company's computer assets, and began securing face-to-face statements. Hive plans to analyze the computer assets secured on this day and take legal action if necessary.
Adore is affiliated with New Jeans. Hive realized that CEO Min was trying to become independent from the headquarters with New Genes and began collecting related evidence. It is reported that Hive exercised this right to audit after detecting circumstances in which Adore executives, including Mr. A, leaked confidential contracts and induced Hive to sell Adore stocks held by Hive. Hive also understands that Mr. A passed on Hive's internal information to Adore.
On this day, Hive requested the Adore board of directors to convene a general shareholders' meeting, and reportedly also sent a letter demanding CEO Min's resignation.
Afterwards, Representative Min also began to refute the claim by issuing an official statement. This afternoon, CEO Min's Adore side released an official statement, saying, “In order to protect our artist, New Genes, and for the healthy development of our country's music industry and culture, we are publicly stating our position on 'Aillet's New Genes copy incident.'” He claimed that this incident was Hive's intention to kick him out when CEO Min raised the issue that 'Aillet is copying New Genes.'
Adore said, “The cultural achievements achieved by Adore and its artist New Jeans are, ironically, being most seriously violated by Hive.” He added, “Belief Lab, one of Hive’s labels, announced that in March of this year, the five-member female idol group Aillet. After Aillet's teaser photo was released, reactions such as 'I thought it was New Jeans' flooded the online world. “They are copying New Genes in some areas,” he pointed out.
He continued, “This is a truly shameful thing. Hive's Chairman Bang Si-hyuk produced Aillet's debut album. Islet's copy of New Genes was not done by the label BelifLab alone, and Hive was involved. K-POP He raised his voice, saying, “Hive, a leading company, is blinded by short-term profits and is copying successful cultural content without any hesitation and instead of showing newness, it is producing banality.”
In addition, Adore said, “The appearance of imitations has drained New Jeans' image, and it has been dragged into unnecessary controversy, causing concern and fatigue to fans and the public. Although the people who created this situation are Hive and Belif Lab, the damage caused by it is “It is entirely the responsibility of Adore and New Genes,” he complained.
Adore said, “We have never permitted or consented to copying New Genes' achievements to anyone, including Hive and Belif Lab. Adore does not want New Genes and Eyelet to be associated in any way. A label under Hive. He emphasized, “I have no intention of tolerating any promotion that claims we are someone’s younger group just because we debuted in .”
In particular, Adore said, “We have already raised an official issue with Hive and Belif Lab regarding this copying incident as well as a series of actions that Hive has taken towards New Genes, including this. However, Hive and Belif Lab did not admit any wrongdoing. , they were busy making excuses, and in the meantime, they were delaying a specific answer and was wasting time. Today (the 22nd), Hive suddenly announced that they will take steps to suspend and dismiss Min Hee-jin as CEO, and for that reason, CEO Min Hee-jin. They claimed, “There is a risk that Adore’s corporate value will be significantly damaged.” At the same time, the media is trying to use absurd content, such as claiming that CEO Min Hee-jin “attempted to seize management rights.”
Lastly, Adore said, “Hive, Belif Lab, and Chairman Bang Si-hyuk have not made a proper apology or prepared countermeasures for this incident, but they seem to think that it will end if they just kick out CEO Min Hee-jin from the company.” “Adore will use all possible means and methods to protect the cultural achievements that New Jeans has achieved and prevent further infringement due to copying,” he said.
Adore, founded by CEO Min in 2021, is a label under Hive, and Hive has an 80% stake. The remaining 20% is held by Adore executives, including CEO Min Hee-jin.
CEO Min Hee-jin is a former SM Entertainment producer who has garnered attention for her unique sense of style by being in charge of concept and branding for groups such as Girls' Generation, SHINee, and EXO. After transferring to Hive, she was in charge of the space branding of Hive's new headquarters in Yongsan, and as the representative of Adoor, she led the debut process of her New Jeans and was called 'New Jeans' mom.'
New Jeans, created by CEO Min, grew into a girl group loved not only in Korea but around the world as soon as they debuted with a series of hit songs such as 'Attention', 'Hype Boy', 'Dito', and 'OMG'. Accordingly, Adore recorded sales of 110.2 billion won, operating profit of 33.5 billion won, and net profit of 26.5 billion won last year.
New Jeans is scheduled to make a comeback next month. There are concerns that this internal conflict between Hive and Adore will hinder New Genes' comeback.
(SBS Entertainment News Reporter Kang Seon-ae)
