Don’t get your hopes up: SM Entertainment likely won’t rehire Min Hee Jin

Gossips gonna gossip. There has been frequent discussion about SM Entertainment welcoming Min Hee Jin back to the company after her legal troubles with HYBE over ADOR. The reason for this discussion is Min Hee Jin’s professional history. Min Hee Jin was the Creative Director for SM Entertainment from 2002 to 2019 and was on the board from 2017 to 2019, when she joined HYBE.

 

However, not only do her legal troubles present a significant liability for any company seeking to take her back, her backroom talks to have ADOR acquired by other labels to escape the grip of HYBE indicate a willingness to skirt agreements for personal advancement. She’s willing to stick her neck out for her artists, sure, but that artistic integrity doesn’t always play nice in a business setting.

 

If Min Hee Jin were willing to relinquish control of NewJeans, there is a strong likelihood that NewJeans could find a home anywhere. They are one of the largest girl groups in the world, after all. That being said, as long as they’re tied to Min Hee Jin, it is going to pose unique challenges given the crazy circumstances.