Did South Korean media delete 'Min Hee Jin's attack on BTS' comment? ARMY points to possible mediaplay

    BTS fans trended several hashtags and phrases on X (formerly known as Twitter), such as "ARMY WANT MHJ OUT OF HYBE".

    Min Hee Jin's attack on BTS

    Min Hee Jin's attack on BTS

    Since the global group Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS) went on hiatus to complete their mandatory South Korean military service, things have not been easy for the members, even in their absence from the limelight. From rumours to unverified accusations, media play, and agencies trying to find the "Next BTS"—a lot has happened in two years.

    Now, embroiled in the ongoing conflict between HYBE and ADOR (a label under the conglomerate), the former CEO Min Hee Jin had dragged the boys into the fight, despite them having no involvement. ARMY has since been vocal about their disdain for the company, Min Hee Jin, and the media for portraying the seven members in a negative light, especially when they cannot defend themselves.

    Meanwhile, a lawyer's claim about ARMYs supporting Min Hee Jin enraged the fandom. According to a Korean news agency, an Attorney Kim pointed out that even BTS' management was problematic for HYBE and wrote, "HYBE needs to think carefully about why ARMY is not on HYBE's side, even though former CEO Min tried to attack BTS."

    This did not sit well with ARMY, who trended several hashtags and phrases on X (formerly known as Twitter), such as "ARMY WANT MHJ OUT OF HYBE," #MinHeeJinOut, #ARMYSWantMHJOut, and #Dont_Use_BTS_and_ARMY, while also demanding the complete removal of the former CEO, who still holds a position in the company.

    However, the Korean outlet that first broke the news has now changed its stance and made changes to the sentence, "HYBE needs to think carefully about why ARMY is not on HYBE's side," removing "even though former CEO Min tried to attack BTS" part, further infuriating ARMY. Many now claim that Min Hee Jin must have had a hand in the changes made to the article.

    HYBE vs Min Hee Jin:

    In April 2024, HYBE Corporation launched an internal audit into former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin after discovering her alleged plans to take over ADOR and NewJeans, and then leave HYBE. The company filed a criminal lawsuit against her for breach of contract and disclosing company secrets while asking her to step down. 

    Leaked KakaoTalk chats reportedly showed Min wishing for BTS to leave HYBE, and she was accused of conspiring with executives from Dunamu and Naver, as well as a foreign investor, to crash HYBE’s stock. Dunamu, HYBE's third-largest shareholder, alerted the company to the plan.

    HYBE held an emergency shareholders meeting on May 30, 2024, to remove her as CEO. However, Min filed a temporary injunction that prevented HYBE, which owns 80% of ADOR, from using its majority rights to dismiss her. Despite this, ADOR's independent board dismissed Min on August 28, 2024, and appointed Kim Joo-young as the new label head. 

    Min was offered the role of in-house creative director for NewJeans, which she refused. Shortly after, NewJeans appeared on YouTube demanding her reappointment as CEO. 

    On September 13, 2024, Min filed another injunction to call a shareholders meeting to reinstate herself as CEO. Her current contract as NewJeans' creative director expires in November 2024, but if her performance is deemed unsatisfactory, HYBE could terminate her contract by the end of that month.