Industry insiders predict a big shift in the K-pop landscape as veteran producer and former ADOR CEO Min Hee‑jin prepares to launch a new girl group under her newly founded label, ooak.
While speculation initially suggested that Min Hee‑jin might recruit the popular girl group New Jeans to his new company, most experts now believe this is highly unlikely due to the huge financial penalties involved.
After completing the legal registration of her new entertainment entity, ooak, Min Hee‑jin’s next steps have attracted considerable attention. There were rumors that he might bring New Jeans under his management, but industry sources quickly dismissed this possibility.
According to messages leaked on KakaoTalk last year, if New Jeans If he were to leave ADOR, the estimated compensation for the breach of contract would range between 450 and 620 billion won, equivalent to approximately 360-500 million dollars. Even considering that the group has been largely inactive for over a year, the fine is still believed to be between 200 and 300 billion won ($160 to $240 million). Given that ADOR’s profit in 2023 is the peak of New Jeans‘ – were only about 33.5 billion won ($25 million to $30 million), the cost of acquiring the group would far exceed the potential returns.
Financial analysts and investors have expressed doubts about the feasibility of such a move. A representative noted: “Considering the size of the refund and the risks associated with intellectual property, the probability of recovering the investment is extremely low. No investor would be willing to take such a risk.” This reality makes it unlikely that any investor will fund a relocation attempt New Jeans to Min Hee‑jin’s new label, despite the group’s enormous global popularity.
As a result, speculation has turned to Min Hee‑jin’s plans to launch a completely new group through ooak. Reports suggest that he is actively seeking both domestic and international investment for this debut project, signaling his intention to build a new idol group from scratch. This strategy allows her to maintain creative freedom and avoid the enormous financial and legal risks associated with poaching New Jeans from ADOR.
This development highlights the high-risk nature of K-pop contracts and the financial pressures behind managing top-tier idol groups. New JeansThe situation highlights how restrictive contracts can be, even for artists at the peak of their careers. At the same time, Min Hee‑jin’s move to found ooak and develop a new group demonstrates the agility and strategic foresight that some producers possess in navigating the competitive entertainment industry.
While fans can hope for a reunion of the New Jeans under Min Hee-jin’s leadership, the combination of financial sanctions and legal constraints makes this scenario unlikely in the short term.
Sources: Netizenbuzz
