On October 18, KBS responded to a viewer petition titled “Please reveal the truth about KBS’s deletion of Min Hee-jin’s interview report” through the viewer petition board on the official website.
On September 19, a petition with the above-mentioned title was posted on the petition board of the KBS official website.
Amid the ongoing conflict between former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and HYBE, NewJeans held an emergency live broadcast on September 11, stating: “We want the original ADOR back. We ask for nothing more. What we want is the original ADOR with Min Hee-jin as CEO, where management and production are integrated. Making this request now is a way to get along with HYBE without arguing.” They demanded that the ADOR be returned to its original state by September 25.
Two days later, on the afternoon of September 13, KBS published an article titled “Min Hee-jin’s team” tried to stop NewJeans statement “…HYBE expressed regret towards Min Hee-jin” but suddenly he deleted it, drawing attention to the background of this action.
The petition ultimately garnered 2,657 signatures, prompting a response from KBS.
At the outset, KBS stated: “We would like to correct and explain portions of the petition content that are materially incorrect or potentially misleading.” Regarding the mention of the signatory of a “Min Hee-jin Interview Report” in the petition title, KBS clarified, “It seems clear that “KBS interviewed Min Hee-jin,” but this is not true. KBS interviewed an associate of Min Hee-jin, not Min Hee-jin herself. In this regard, KBS requested a correction to the media incorrectly stating “KBS interviewed Min Hee-jin.” The media accepted KBS’s request for correction and changed their articles.”
Responding to criticism that KBS had deleted the article without explanation, they stated: “After the video was posted on YouTube, KBS obtained several pieces of information from another associate of Min Hee-jin that contradicted the previously reported content. After a discussion between the editors, considering the conflicting information, it was decided to delete the existing article. Since the positions between the related parties were also changing, the deletion was carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the KBS News Division.
KBS also explained: “Regarding the petitioner’s mention of a possible connection to a post on a certain community regarding the circumstances of the article’s deletion, we clarify that KBS’s deletion of the article has no relation to that community post.”
They added“KBS News has been reporting on this issue, which began in April 2024, in chronological order as news develops.”
Finally, KBS stated: “We believe that describing KBS as a promotional channel or proxy for a specific individual arises from misunderstandings on the part of some viewers or related parties. KBS reported on this issue with an open attitude towards all parties.” They promised, “KBS will continue to report on this topic and other important social issues based on standards of objectivity and fairness, maintaining an impartial stance.”
On April 25, HYBE filed a criminal complaint against Min Hee-jin for breach of trust. On August 27, they appointed Kim Joo-young, former human resources manager of HYBE, as the new CEO of ADOR. Min Hee-jin, who was stripped of management rights, said it was a unilateral dismissal, while HYBE countered that it was a replacement of the CEO through proper procedures.
Finally, on September 13, Min Hee-jin filed a petition with the Seoul Central District Court to convene a temporary meeting of ADOR shareholders and for her reappointment as ADOR’s house director. HYBE essentially rejected NewJeans’ request for Min Hee-jin’s return. In the midst of all this, news broke that Min Hee-jin was reappointed as house director on October 17.
Source: Daum
