Hybe Reportedly Rejects Min Hee-jin’s ‘Free NewJeans’ Offer

Photo Credit: Kstation TV

Looks like Hybe isn’t on board with Min Hee-jin’s “Free NewJeans” offer: The K-pop giant is reportedly digging in as it appeals the ex-Ador head’s legal victory.

We broke down both the victory and the offer earlier in February, the former referring to a Seoul court’s order for Hybe to pay Min roughly $18 million in a stock sub-dispute. More recently, the exec said she’d forgo the windfall if Hybe put the marathon NewJeans dispute to rest.

In some ways, the ugly showdown has already resolved; Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein have returned to the group (and Ador), with Minji reportedly in ongoing discussions to do the same.

(Neither Minji nor Hybe seems to have provided an update as of late, and especially in light of the other members’ mid-November return, the radio silence isn’t an encouraging sign for the talks.)

But Hybe/Ador terminated Danielle’s contract in December and fired off a sizable suit against her, a family member, and Min. As such, the potential appeal of Min’s offer was clear enough: Drop the action, enable NewJeans to put the episode in the rearview, save millions, and prevent another prolonged courtroom confrontation.

But at least according to the Korea JoongAng Daily, Hybe, which wouldn’t necessarily win the PR or precedent battles by dropping the complaint in exchange for cash, is on a rather different page.

On the same day that Min laid out her offer during a press conference, the company reportedly deposited $20.5 million or so – besides Min’s $18 million win, two additional Ador vets are also entitled to payments – with the court to stay the verdict’s enforcement pending appeal.

With that, the available evidence is pointing to another round in the lengthy dispute, though time will reveal how things play out.

More immediately, a technically independent Danielle has launched her own YouTube channel – albeit with just one upload, a nine-minute update for fans, to date. And Min is plowing full steam ahead with her newly established Ooak Records, which is currently holding auditions for a boy group.

Closing on an adjacent note, amid BTS’ mega-comeback, Hybe definitely doesn’t need a public dispute with its (and K-pop’s) biggest act.

Army diehards can rest easy; there aren’t any indications of a full-scale artist-versus-agency roadblock. But speedbumps are apparently par for the course. During a recent late-night Weverse livestream, Jungkook reportedly imbibed a couple beverages and had a relatively open conversation with fans.

That seems inconsequential on its own, but the 28-year-old used some of the 88-minute broadcast to air his grievances about being “censored by…his agency,” according once again to the JoongAng Daily.

“‘I’ve always wanted to be honest with Army,’” he reportedly stated during the later-removed stream. “‘Honestly, if it weren’t for the company, I would have said everything.’”