According to a Dec. 3 report from SPOTV News, Min Hee Jin’s newly founded company, OOAK Records, will hold an in-person audition behind closed doors on Dec. 7 at one of Korea’s top-tier dance studios. This audition marks the first major step in training a new group of interns.
Min founded OOAK Records last October and completed the company registration shortly after. The agency is located in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, where Min has also secured a building to house the label’s operations.
Registered as a company involved in celebrity management, music and album production, music distribution, performance planning and brand management, OOAK Records has Min Hee Jin listed as an in-house director.
He recently made his company’s formation public by issuing press releases under the name OOAK Records during the third court hearing of his ongoing legal battle against HYBE. The case centers on a put option application and the termination of its shareholder agreement with HYBE.
The upcoming audition marks OOAK Records’ intention to build a new team from scratch, effectively positioning itself as a post-New Jeans production house. The audition is open to candidates born between 2006 and 2011, regardless of gender or nationality, suggesting that the company is open to forming both a female and male group.
The dance studio selected for the auditions is one of the Korean “Big Three”, already present in Mnet’s Street dance girl fighter 2 and frequented by high-level talents. Kirsten, leader of Jam Republic, once described it as her first studio experience in Korea. Kyoka, leader of The world of Street Woman Fighter the winner Osaka Ojo Gang, also held special lessons there, and New JeansThe director of the BLACK.Q show provided instructions at the venue.
Meanwhile, Min Hee Jin recently appeared in court, expressing deep distress over her dismissal from ADOR, stating: “It felt like hell, but I endured it because of NewJeans.” She insisted “I ran ADOR with transparency and integrity. There was no wrongdoing on my part. That’s why I’m doing everything I can. I had no reason to be fired.” stating that HYBE’s actions amounted to an unfair audit.
On the contrary, New Jeans declared their return to ADOR. Members Haerin and Hyein officially resumed activities after extensive discussions with the agency. Although Danielle, Minji and Hanni have made independent decisions to return and have held individual meetings with ADOR, the final outcome regarding their reinstatement has yet to be made public.
Sources: Daum
