In the midst of a brewing conflict between HYBE and ADOR's Min Hee Jin, the label that houses the girl group NewJeans, Minji has stepped into the public eye for the first time.

NewJeans' Minji graced a high-end cosmetic brand event in Seoul on the afternoon of April 23rd. She greeted the crowd with a professional wave and struck various poses, including a heart sign.

However, her expression seemed somewhat somber during the photo session, a departure from her usual cheerful demeanor.

This change in mood appears to be a ripple effect of the recent controversy surrounding Min Hee Jin. It was previously reported that HYBE exercised its right to audit ADOR's Min Hee Jin and ADOR's management team A on April 22nd.

Allegedly, Min Hee Jin had recently partnered with A and pressured HYBE to sell its 80% stake in ADOR to a private equity fund (PEF) she had aligned with.

In response to this, HYBE's audit team is said to be formulating a plan to create a separate independent corporation and transfer the NewJeans members, should Min Hee Jin's pressure tactics to sell to the private equity fund fail.

There were also rumors that Min Hee Jin, who debuted less than two years ago, was strategizing to shift the responsibility of terminating the contract with NewJeans and ADOR onto HYBE, in anticipation of the substantial penalty risk associated with NewJeans.

Min Hee Jin, however, countered these claims in an official statement on April 22nd, denying any attempts to seize control of ADOR and accusing HYBE of media manipulation. She alleges that she has been the target of retaliatory attacks from HYBE ever since she internally reported suspicions of ILLIT copying NewJeans.

As NewJeans is slated for a comeback in May, all eyes are on the group's next move. Min Hee Jin stated, "I made the official announcement after sufficient discussion with the NewJeans members and their legal representatives," which has only heightened fans' concerns.

Amidst reactions suggesting a repeat of the FiftyFifty incident, Minji too seemed aware of the situation, attending the event with a somber expression.

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Actress Lim Ji Yeon is finally opening up about the unexpected backlash she received after showing support for actor Jung Woo Sung during his controversial return to the public eye.

In an interview on January 23rd, following the end of her drama The Tale of Lady Ok, Lim Ji Yeon spoke candidly about the situation that caused a stir at the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards in November last year.

At the event, Jung Woo Sung made his public return after facing controversy surrounding an “illegitimate child” with model Moon Ga Bi. While Jung Woo Sung took the stage to apologize, Lim Ji Yeon was seen clapping and cheering for him.

Reflecting on that moment, Lim Ji Yeon shared, "It was a brief moment, so it’s hard to say whether it was right or wrong." She added, "I didn’t expect the public’s reaction. On the other hand, I was cautious since The Tale of Lady Ok was airing at the time."

For those who missed it, Jung Woo Sung and Moon Ga Bi, who had been in a relationship since 2022, revealed last year that they were expecting a child.

The actor took full responsibility for the situation and issued an apology during the awards ceremony, saying, "I’m sorry for causing concern and disappointment to everyone who has shown me love and support. I will bear all the criticism, and I promise to take full responsibility as a father to my son".

However, while Jung Woo Sung addressed the controversy, it was Lim Ji Yeon’s show of support that sparked controversy.

She cheered enthusiastically for Jung Woo Sung, while actress Hye Ri, who was seated next to her, kept a neutral, expressionless face. This led to a wave of criticism from some netizens who questioned Lim Ji Yeon’s reaction.

It’s worth noting that Lim Ji Yeon’s agency, Artist Company, was co-founded by Jung Woo Sung and actor Lee Jung Jae, both of whom currently serve as directors.

Could this connection have influenced Lim Ji Yeon’s public display of support? She’s still processing the response, and fans are curious to know how she’ll handle the fallout moving forward.

Source: [1]