[theqoo] [EXCLUSIVE] “FIGHTS, EVERY MOMENT”… MIN HEEJIN’S 10 SHADOW TACTICS

Danielle’s mother couldn’t help but smile either.

“Min Heejin’s plan to block ADOR staff from entering ComplexCon

March 21, 2025

Lawyer: I’ll request that ComplexCon prohibit ADOR staff from entering the venue and from receiving tickets.

Min Heejin: You need to be more forceful with ComplexCon. Don’t beat around the bush. just tell them directly, ‘Do this.'”

NewJeans fought at every single moment. Despite the court granting ADOR’s injunction (preserving its status as the agency and prohibiting the group from signing advertising contracts independently), they still took the stage at Hong Kong’s ComplexCon under the name NJZ.

On March 23, 2025, Min Heejin watched them do exactly that. Why did she encourage the fight?

On the 2nd, the 31st Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Nam In-soo) held the third hearing in ADOR’s damages lawsuit. The defendants were Danielle, her mother, and former CEO Min Heejin.

“Min Heejin’s Instructions for the ComplexCon Preparations

Messages between Min Heejin and staff

Around February 2025

Min Heejin: Start preparing for the Hong Kong performance.

Min Heejin: Outfits: OO. O individual outfits, O group outfits.

Min Heejin: For the outfits, just use the beat/reference as a guide when preparing them.

Min Heejin: For the major expenses, have the mothers cover them first.

Min Heejin: How about this for the merchandise? (March 2025)”

① Independent Activities in Hong Kong

Min Heejin oversaw the overall planning for NewJeans’ ComplexCon appearance in Hong Kong, including preparations for a new song. She instructed staff on stage outfits and resolved funding issues by saying that “the mothers should cover the major expenses first.” She also oversaw the production of merchandise to be sold at the event.

② Consulting Fee of 730 Million won (~ US$530,000)

Dispatch obtained the contract between NJZ and ComplexCon. According to the contract, approximately 730 million won was allocated as a consulting fee, about 1.5 times higher than the artist performance fee. (The contract reportedly does not specify who the consulting fee was paid to.)

“Min Heejin Preparing for NJZ’s Debut

Conversation between Min Heejin and NJZ staff (February 2, 2025)

Min Heejin: The (NJZ) profile photos must remain confidential.

Min Heejin: They could affect the lawsuit.

Min Heejin: Keep working on everything in secret until our corporation is established.”

③ Keep It Confidential at Every Step

Min Heejin directed NJZ’s profile photo shoot while stressing secrecy.

“Keep it confidential until the corporation is established. It could affect the lawsuit.”

According to Dispatch, this suggests she was aware that these independent activities could become a legal issue.

“NewJeans going into Min Heejin’s new practice room (25.03.21)

④ Operating Expenses Paid Through the “Mothers”

NewJeans reportedly established a separate association, funded through the mothers’ bank accounts. According to the report, Min Hee-in used those funds to prepare for ComplexCon. It is also claimed that rehearsal space expenses for a future rookie group were paid from NewJeans’ account.

“Reconstructed conversation between Min Hee-jin and NewJeans parents (Sept 2024)

Min Heejin: Is he one of Hong Kong’s top three billionaires? I heard an extremely wealthy Hong Kong businessman contacted us through someone he trusts and asked to meet.

Parnets: People like that usually think in terms of just paying termination fees to take someone away. They think, “We can just buy them out by paying a price.””

⑤ Allegedly Facilitating a Second Contract

Min Heejin reportedly introduced the parents to AAO, a company established by Bonnie Chan Wu, the organizer of ComplexCon. According to Dispatch, NewJeans secretly signed an exclusive contract with AAO in September of last year, resulting in what the report characterizes as a double contract.

“One of Hong Kong’s top billionaires? An incredibly wealthy Hong Kong businessman contacted us asking to meet. People like that usually think they can just pay the penalty fee and take you.” — Min Hee-jin

⑥ The Livestream Strategy

According to Dispatch, the controversial livestream in September 2024 was also planned by Min Heejin. The report says she persuaded the members to do it in order to create evidence for future litigation, describing it as part of a broader strategy to leave ADOR. In October, she also reportedly tried to persuade hesitant parents to proceed with legal action.

“Even in the worst-case scenario, I’ll make sure the parents don’t suffer financial losses. If you leave HYBE, we’ll prepare compensation that can cover legal costs. Trying to save 100 million won could end up costing you tens of billions. Penny-wise, pound-foolish.” – Min Heejin

⑦ Awareness of Tampering Allegations

Dispatch says it previously exclusively reported that Min Heejin attempted to tamper with NewJeans’ contracts, citing the livestream planning and contacts with a publicly listed company. At the time, Min denied the allegations. The report claims that evidence presented during the current trial contradicts those denials.

“I’d like to do the livestream together with the members too, but because of tampering concerns, we have to stay separate.” – Min Heejin

“Edited content of Min Heejin’s conversations regarding NewJeans legal arguments

March 7, 2025 – Min Heejin / Lawyer conversation log

Min Heejin: The third paragraph might cause controversy. How about deleting it? I can remove it for you.

Min Heejin: What if we change it to “I don’t remember exactly”?”

Min Heejin: How about adding that the debtor mocked them through words and actions?

—

After the injunction ruling – Min Heejin / Parents conversation log

Min Heejin: Have Minji’s and Danielle’s mothers go as representatives and demand things ADOR won’t accept, then record the conversation.

Min Heejin: Let’s write a script and make the recording evidence more explicit and structured.”

⑧ Suggested Adding Allegations Against ILLIT

According to the report, Min Heejin reviewed NewJeans’ oral argument materials and suggested adding the following claim:

“How about adding that some ILLIT members mocked NewJeans through their words and actions?”

Dispatch says this allegation was ultimately included in the oral arguments.

⑨ Requests Meant to Be Rejected

The report alleges that Min Heejin also treated negotiations with ADOR strategically. She reportedly suggested that Minji’s and Danielle’s mothers attend meetings as representatives and secretly record them.

“We’re going there to get them to reject our demands anyway. We’re not actually trying to negotiate. The point is to build justification for not returning to ADOR.” – Min Heejin

⑩ Danielle’s Mother as a Key Participant

ADOR sought to terminate only Danielle’s exclusive contract, stating that she alone had carried out independent commercial activities and had not cooperated with corrective measures. One example cited was the collaboration with Emotional Oranges (EO).

“We determined that approximately US$175,000 had already been invested in production and artist-related costs. We believe the project had progressed to the point where recording and other production expenses had already been incurred.” – ADOR

The report also alleges that Danielle’s mother encouraged the other parents by saying:

“Be confident during your meeting with ADOR. Tell them to discuss past matters with Sejong.”

According to Dispatch, she also remained silent about the alleged second contract during meetings with ADOR.

The next court hearing is scheduled for the 23rd.