Newjeans became the center of growing speculation after their response to the sudden removal of their CEO, Min Heejin, went viral. On Sept. 11, the group released a now-deleted YouTube video where they openly criticized their parent label, Hybe, and demanded Min’s reinstatement, sparking widespread speculation about the internal dynamics of the company and the treatment of its artists. 

The feud between Hybe and Min Heejin initially began after Hybe had asked her to step down as CEO of Ador, Hybe’s subsidiary label. Min responded to this in an interview with Naver, alleging that Hybe had tried to purposely sabotage Newjeans in order to bring more attention to its newest group, Illit.

Many fans were understandably shocked and frustrated with the situation, but the outrage eventually died down. However, on Aug. 27, it was officially announced Min had stepped down from her position as CEO. This caused an uproar of speculation as to whether it was truly Min’s decision to step down. It was reported that she was given an offer to stay at Ador as a producer for Newjeans, but had denied it as Hybe’s terms were “unreasonable.” Her dismissal has left many wondering how it may affect Newjeans and their future projects.

“At first, I didn’t think the situation with Hybe and Min Heejin was that serious, but the fact that the feud has lasted for so long makes me realize this is more serious than we think,” Yegene Hwang (10), pop-culture enthusiast, said. “I’m worried for Newjeans due to the fact that they’re so young.”

Following the removal of Min, on Sept. 11, Newjeans broke the internet with their official response to the situation. In the 27-minute long video titled “What NewJeans Wanted To Say,” all five members were seen reading from a script that not only expressed their unwavering support for Min but also alleged incidents of mistreatment within Hybe. The Youtube video was quickly taken off of the channel, though it still circulates on the internet as many fans had already saved screen recordings and shared them on other social media platforms such as Tiktok and Instagram. 

In the video, Newjeans member Hanni revealed that other artists from different subsidiary labels under Hybe have been ordered by their respective managers to ignore the group. Additionally, the NewJeans members accused Hybe of dismissing their concerns regarding a recent online leak of their personal information, including medical records and early trainee footage. These revelations have sent shockwaves through the K-pop industry, leaving fans questioning Hybe’s management practices and the future of one of its most successful groups.

“As a Newjeans fan, I also feel frustrated by Hybe’s mistreatment towards the group, and I was really surprised after hearing about their video,” Justin Chun (10), Newjeans supporter, said. “I didn’t expect them to reveal their opinions so publicly, but I think that it was a good idea as Hybe would now feel pressured to reply, and I hope the conflict within the company can be resolved soon.”

Amid the controversy, celebrities have also revealed their thoughts on the matter. On Sept. 14, BTS member Jungkook captioned his Instagram post with “Artists are not guilty.” The sentence was followed by five hearts, each heart speculated to represent a Newjeans member. Hybe responded to the post claiming that they would be “checking the artist’s ‘true intentions’.” Two days after, however, Jungkook posted a follow-up post with the caption, “Don’t use them,” igniting rumors once again.

“I still think there’s more to the story,” Alex Ko (10), K-pop fanatic, said. “Min Heejin obviously has a lot of influence on Newjeans, and I think it’s worrying how much power companies and directors have over artists.”

While most are criticizing Hybe for their approach to the matter, many also believe that Min is not completely faultless, especially with previous allegations regarding her exploitative behavior towards the artists under her previous company. Some believe that Min may have played a significant role in the exploitation of Newjeans as well, and fans express their concern about the power dynamics at play in the entertainment industry.