The Rise Of Controversial ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin

Recently, ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin‘s feud with HYBE over her goal of fully owning the label has taken center stage in K-Pop news.

Min Hee Jin might currently be known for working under HYBE, but her rise to this position began many years ago.

After graduating from Seoul Women’s University, where she studied visual design, she eventually took a position at SM Entertainment as a graphic designer in 2002.

She was eventually promoted to creative director and was responsible for many of SM Entertainment’s group’s most iconic concepts, including f(x)‘s Pink Tape and SHINee‘s Sherlock. Though the latter left many uncomfortable, Min Hee Jin was praised for taking artists’ concepts and imagery to another level for SM artists and K-Pop overall.

She continued to rise at SM Entertainment, eventually being added to the board of directors in 2017.   However, she departed from the company in 2018, with her desires for complete creative control fueling the decision.

Min Hee Jin joined HYBE in 2019 as chief brand officer, and oversaw the company’s rebranding efforts, which were revealed in depth by text messages between her and Bang Si Hyuk

“Bang PD Was In Love With Her”: Netizens React To ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin’s Press Conference

Min Hee Jin’s ultimate goal was partially fulfilled when she was named CEO of the newly created ADOR, and was allowed to fully control all aspects of the creation of NewJeans.

However, HYBE currently owns 80% of ADOR, a fact that led to the ongoing feud between Min Hee Jin and the company as she sought to buy out full control through allegedly illegal means.

You can read more about the feud below.

Industry Insider Exposes The Full Timeline Of Bang Si Hyuk Versus Min Hee Jin Feud