From releasing undeniably unique music to presenting eye-catching performances on stage, NewJeans quickly became the talk of the K-POP industry as their mystery debut took the internet by a storm with their debut music video "ATTENTION" gaining over 3 Million views within 24 hours of its release on YouTube. Not soon after their entry in the industry, it wasn't surprising to see that their name was linked with Hybe's mistreatment for their artists.
Shortly after their debut, tensions flared between Hybe and Ador, NewJeans' managing label. Parents of the group’s members began expressing concern for their daughters' well-being amid reports of mistreatment. It soon became clear that behind the glamour, there were serious issues brewing.
In May 2024, the situation intensified when an investigative report by Ilgan Sports revealed manipulative practices by Hybe. The report claimed that executives had pretended to care for the girls while simultaneously stirring up negative media narratives against them. After a private meeting with Hybe’s CEO, Park Ji Won, where parents were warned not to share sensitive information with their daughters, the very articles they were cautioned about were published just an hour later. This betrayal shattered the trust that parents had placed in the company.
Adding to the discontent, parents noticed that Bang Si Hyuk, the founder of Hybe, often ignored NewJeans members during encounters at the company. A report detailed how parents were taken aback by his apparent indifference, especially when they observed his warm interactions with artists from other groups, such as LESSERAFIM. This disparity raised serious concerns about how Hybe viewed artists managed by Ador versus those directly under their label.
In response to the growing anxiety, the members of NewJeans held an emotional “emergency live” session on YouTube, where they shared their frustrations. They called for Min Hee Jin, their former CEO, to be reinstated, citing incidents of mistreatment and highlighting how they felt overlooked by their own management. Hanni detailed her struggles with another group’s manager, while Minji expressed her disbelief at how someone within the same company could be so dismissive towards a fellow member. Unfortunately, their concerns were brushed aside by the new CEO, who claimed it was too late to address the issues without evidence.
Things took an even darker turn when the girls revealed that their medical records and personal videos from their trainee days had been leaked online, a violation of their privacy that was especially concerning since four of the five members were minors in those clips. Despite efforts from the parents and Min Hee Jin to bring attention to these serious breaches, Hybe remained largely unresponsive, which contradicted the company’s claims of prioritizing artist protection.
As NewJeans goes through this challenging landscape, their story underscores the complexities and challenges within the K-Pop industry. It’s a sober reminder of the disparities in treatment that can exist behind the scenes, raising crucial questions about the responsibilities of management to protect and support their artists.
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