Min Hee-jin | |
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![]() Min in 2024 | |
Born | 1979 (age 44–45) Seoul, South Korea |
Other names | MHJ |
Education | Seoul Women's University |
Occupations |
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Years active | 2002–present |
Korean name | |
Hangul | 민희진 |
Revised Romanization | Min Hui-jin |
McCune–Reischauer | Min Hŭichin |
Min Hee-jin (Korean : 민희진) is a South Korean art director and graphic designer. She is the current CEO of ADOR, a subsidiary of entertainment company Hybe Corporation, where she previously served as chief brand officer. She was formerly a creative director at SM Entertainment, where she was responsible for the branding of groups such as Girls' Generation, Shinee, f(x), Exo, and Red Velvet.
Min was born in 1979. She attended Seoul Women's University, where she received a degree in visual design. [1]
Min joined SM Entertainment in 2002 as a graphic designer. She was later promoted to creative director and led the visual branding of groups such as Girls' Generation, Shinee, f(x), Exo and Red Velvet. [2] Her role involved overseeing the planning and production of album artwork, costumes and music videos, as well as building the artist's brand identity through non-visual means. For instance, she created an exhibition to commemorate the release of f(x)'s 4 Walls album (2015), and engaged fans in a deductive game titled "Pathcode" as part of promotions for Exo's 2015 album Exodus . [3] During her tenure at SM, she received attention for her innovative, experimental approach to art direction, which differed from the formulaic style used by first-generation K-pop idols. [4] Min is credited with shifting the visual direction of the K-pop industry to become more concept-driven, [5] [6] and is particularly noted for her work on f(x)'s 2013 album Pink Tape . [7] She joined SM's board of directors in 2017, [2] but left the company at the end of 2018 due to burnout. [1] [8]
Min joined Hybe Corporation in 2019 as chief brand officer and oversaw the company's rebranding, [2] including the design of the new logo and the new work space in Yongsan. [9] [10] [11] She was appointed CEO of Hybe's new subsidiary ADOR (All Doors One Room) in November 2021. Min shared in a statement, "Our label won't hesitate to accept new challenges and strive to create artist IP and content containing ADOR's unique philosophy." [12] The label unveiled its first girl group NewJeans in July 2022, [13] with Min leading their creative direction and development. [12] They released their debut self-titled extended play on August 1. [13] In 2023, Min was awarded the Seoul City Culture Award by the Seoul Metropolitan Government for her work with NewJeans. [14]
Min has been accused by online users of drawing inspirations for the groups she manages from sexually charged media that involve minors. Min was seen sharing pictures of her apartment on Instagram which showcased images that refer to the 1974 film I'll Take Her Like a Father , among others. Min has also been accused of allowing revealing clothes that mimic those of school girls for f(x) and sexual innuendos on the lyrics of the track "Cookie" for NewJeans. In response, ADOR announced they have taken legal action against the allegations. [15] [16] [17] [18]
On April 22, 2024, Hybe Corporation started an internal audit on Min and her executives for allegedly attempting to seize full control of ADOR, and publicly called for Min's resignation as the CEO. [19] [20] In response, Min issued a public statement refuting the allegation, claiming that it would have been impossible for her to seize control of ADOR since Hybe owns 80% of the shares. [21] Min claimed that she was asked to resign because of her complaints towards the creative similarities in artistic direction between NewJeans and Illit, a girl group that had debuted under Hybe's subsidiary label Belift Lab. Min blamed Hybe chairman Bang Si-hyuk, who oversaw the production of Illit's debut, for failing to address the creative similarities between the two groups. [22] Following the dispute, Hybe Corporation's share value fell by 12.17%. [23]
Hybe subsequently released the findings of their investigations to support the claims made against Min, including messages exchanged on KakaoTalk between Min and ADOR's vice president, where the latter listed methods to take control of NewJeans' activities. [24] [25] Hybe also filed a complaint to authorities against Min for breach of trust. [26] Min addressed the allegations on April 25, 2024, at an emergency press conference, accompanied by her two lawyers. She stated that there was no concrete plan to leave Hybe, and that tensions with Hybe executives started when Le Sserafim's debut was prioritized over NewJeans'. [27]
On May 7, Min filed an injunction against Hybe to prevent the company from exercising its voting rights at the next shareholders' meeting, where she expected to be removed as CEO of ADOR. [28] [29] On May 17, the hearing for Min's injuction began, and the members of NewJeans filed a petition with the Seoul Central District Court to prevent Min's dismissal from ADOR. [30] [31] That same day, Min's alleged KakaoTalk chats were leaked, showing Min making disparaging remarks about NewJeans, as well as their fans, with a colleague. [32] [33] On May 19, NewJeans' parents submitted their own petition to the court in Min's favor. [34] On May 22, Belift filed a complaint to authorities against Min for defamation regarding her accusations of plagiarism. [35]
On May 30, the court upheld the injunction filed by Min, disallowing Hybe from exercising its voting rights to dismiss her as CEO, [36] stating that there was no actual implementation stage to gain full control of ADOR. [37] During the next shareholders' meeting, two executives of ADOR close to Min were dismissed from their functions and replaced by Hybe's board members. [38]
Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee/work | Result | Ref. |
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Golden Disc Awards | 2024 | Producer Award | Min Hee-jin | Won | [39] |
Korea Content Awards | 2023 | Presidential Commendation | Won | [40] | |
MAMA Awards | 2016 | Best Visual & Art Director | Won | [41] | |
2022 | Breakout Producer | Won | [42] |
Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Billboard | 2023 | International Power Players | Placed | [43] |
Women in Music – Multisector | Placed | [44] |
Lee Soo-man is a South Korean business executive and record producer who is best known for being the founder of SM Entertainment, a multinational South Korean entertainment company based in Seoul. He has also been referred to as the "president of culture", as one of the pioneers of the Korean Wave. Lee debuted as a singer in 1971 while he was a student at Seoul National University. In 1989, he founded SM Entertainment, which has since become one of the largest entertainment companies in the country.
Hybe Co., Ltd. is a South Korean multinational entertainment company established in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk as Big Hit Entertainment Co., Ltd. The company operates as a record label, talent agency, music production company, event management and concert production company, and music publishing house. It has multiple subsidiaries, including Big Hit Music, Belift Lab, Source Music, Pledis Entertainment, KOZ Entertainment, and ADOR, collectively known as Hybe Labels.
Le Sserafim is a South Korean girl group formed by Source Music. The group consists of five members: Sakura, Kim Chae-won, Huh Yun-jin, Kazuha, and Hong Eun-chae. Originally a six-member group, Kim Ga-ram left on July 20, 2022, after the termination of her exclusive contract.
NewJeans is a South Korean girl group formed by ADOR. The group is composed of five members: Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein. They are known for their girl next door image and musical stylings reminiscent of the 1990s and 2000s.
New Jeans is the debut extended play (EP) by the South Korean girl group NewJeans. It was released on August 1, 2022, by ADOR, a subsidiary of Hybe Corporation. Produced by Min Hee-jin, 250, and Park Jin-su, the EP draws from synth-pop, hip hop, and R&B and infuses elements of musical styles from the 1990s and 2000s decades. The songs "Attention", "Hype Boy", and "Cookie" were released as singles.
"Attention" is a song by South Korean girl group NewJeans. The music video for the song was surprise-released on July 22, 2022, without prior disclosure of the group's members or concept. "Attention" was officially released for download and streaming as the first single of their self-titled debut EP on August 1, 2022. The song co-written by the group's member Danielle, features a groovy, early 2000s R&B-influenced sound with dynamic key changes.
"Hype Boy" is a song by the South Korean idol girl group NewJeans, taken from their debut extended play (EP), New Jeans (2022). ADOR, an independent division of Hybe Corporation, released four music videos for the song on July 23, 2022, each focusing on the members and their narratives. "Hype Boy" was officially released for download and streaming as the second single of the EP on August 1, 2022.
"Cookie" is a song by South Korean girl group NewJeans. It was released as the third single from their debut self-titled extended play by ADOR on August 1, 2022.
Phạm Ngọc Hân, known professionally as Hanni, is a Vietnamese-Australian singer and dancer based in South Korea. She is a member of the South Korean girl group NewJeans, formed by ADOR in July 2022.
Danielle June Marsh, known mononymously as Danielle (Korean: 다니엘), is a Korean-Australian singer. She began her career in the entertainment industry by making several appearances on television as a child, before debuting as a member of South Korean girl group NewJeans in 2022. The following year, Marsh ventured into acting, voicing Ariel in the Korean dub of the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid (1989).
OMG is the first single album by South Korean girl group NewJeans. It was released on January 2, 2023 by ADOR. It contains the lead single of the same name and "Ditto", which was released prior to the single album on December 19, 2022.
"OMG" is a song by the South Korean idol girl group NewJeans from their single album of the same name (2023). ADOR, a division of Hybe Corporation, released "OMG" for download and streaming on January 2, 2023. Park Jin-su produced the track and composed it with Ylva Dimberg and David Dawood. The lyrics, written by Dimberg, Gigi, and NewJeans member Hanni, were inspired by high school dramas and explore themes of young love, dedication, and one-sided affection. It blends R&B, hip hop, and pop, featuring hip-hop percussion, trap rhythms, and a UK garage-inflected groove. The song includes plucked staccato synth chords, skittering cowbells, and layered vocal harmonies and percussion.
"Ditto" is a song by the South Korean girl group NewJeans, released on December 19, 2022, by ADOR, a label of Hybe Corporation. The producer 250 composed "Ditto" with Ylva Dimberg, who wrote the lyrics with the Black Skirts, Oohyo, and NewJeans' member Minji. With a sound rooted in Baltimore club, the track incorporates a balladic electronic and dance production with influences of house, breakbeat, and UK garage. The lyrics are about reminiscing a platonic love.
"Super Shy" is a song by the South Korean girl group NewJeans from their second extended play Get Up (2023). ADOR, a division of Hybe Corporation, released the song for download and streaming on July 7, 2023. In the United States, Interscope Records released it to contemporary hit radio on August 15, 2023. It is an incorporation of liquid drum and bass, bubblegum, and Jersey club, featuring a distinctive staccato kick drum pattern. Written by Gigi, Kim Dong-hyun, Erika de Casier, Kristine Bogan, Frankie Scoca, and NewJeans member Danielle, it is about the nervousness of confessing to a first love.
"New Jeans" is a song by South Korean girl group NewJeans, taken from their second extended play (EP), Get Up (2023). ADOR, an independent division of Hybe, released the track for digital download and streaming as a B-side to the single "Super Shy" on July 7, 2023.
Shin Hee-won (Korean: 신희원) is a South Korean music video director who works with ST-WT Productions. He has directed music videos for several K-pop artists, including Red Velvet, f(x), Shinee, Girls' Generation, NewJeans, and Kiss of Life. His music videos have been nominated or have won awards at the Melon Music Awards, the MAMA Awards, and the Genie Music Awards. Shin's music video for "Bang Bus" by 250 was selected to compete at some international film festivals and won Best Music Video at the K Asif Chambal International Film Festival.
"How Sweet" is a song by the South Korean girl group NewJeans from their second single album of the same name. It was released by ADOR on May 24, 2024, along with the B-side track "Bubble Gum". NewJeans began promoting the single in April 2024, through the release of the music video for "Bubble Gum" on YouTube, featuring the Japanese version of the track in advertisements and television programs in Japan, and appearing on music shows and variety shows in South Korea.
"Supernatural" is a single by South Korean girl group NewJeans. ADOR released it as a CD single on June 21, 2024, along with the B-side track "Right Now". Produced by 250, "Supernatural" contains an interpolation of a section from the 2009 track "Back of My Mind" by Manami and songwriter Pharrell. "Supernatural and "Right Now" became NewJeans's first releases in Japanese, marking their debut in the Japanese music market. NewJeans began promoting in the country in April 2024, by announcing a fan meeting, opening pop-up stores in partnership with Kao and Shibuya109, having "Right Now" be featured in advertisements ahead of the official release, and teasing collaborations with Japanese artists Takashi Murakami and Hiroshi Fujiwara.