ADOR replaces CEO after just a year amid legal battle with NewJeans; fans say ‘management is unstable'
Kim Ju-young, a former HR executive, was appointed as the CEO of ADOR in August 2024 after the exit of the label's founding head Min Hee-jin. Min stepped down following her legal dispute with Hybe, the South Korean multinational entertainment company that owns ADOR, over stock options after an alleged attempt to seize control of the subsidiary.
According to Soompi, Kim's appointment was intended to stabilize the company's organizational structure. However, now that those goals have been met, the board has decided to shift toward a system that can drive business growth more swiftly. This led to the appointment of Lee, who was previously vice president of Hybe's IPX division, which develops artist IP-based businesses such as merchandising, licensing, and fan experiences.
'Having deemed the previous restructuring goals achieved, the board is now moving to an operational model focused on quickly supporting artists' activities and driving business expansion,' ADOR said in a statement.
Many fans criticized ADOR for changing its leadership in the middle of a legal battle with NewJeans. One fan wrote, 'maaaaaan…ador is so stupid… like why would you replace the CEO in the middle of a lawsuit and another mediation session in 22 days.. that's just admitting that management is so unstable, there's zero contingency plans and that MHJ was right (again).' Another added, 'Big shift at ADOR with Lee Dokyung stepping in as the new CEO. Fresh leadership could mean a whole new direction for the label. Curious to see how this impacts their artists and upcoming projects. Definitely a moment to watch in the K-pop industry.'
Since ADOR's former CEO Min Hee-jin stepped down, NewJeans members — Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein — have been in conflict with the Hybe subsidiary over contract disputes and allegations of mistreatment.
The K-pop group sought to terminate their contract with ADOR. However, the label filed for an injunction to prevent NewJeans from engaging in independent activities, which the court initially granted. The dispute has since involved multiple court hearings, but no agreement between the parties has been reached.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
10 hours ago
- Mint
KPop Demon Hunters sing-along arrives in theatres this August: Release date, venue, tickets and all details here
Netflix is bringing its animated sensation KPop Demon Hunters back to the big screen for a special limited-time sing-along event. The screenings will take place this August in theatres across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. The animated musical, which premiered on the streaming giant on June 20, has become a global phenomenon, dominating streaming charts and breaking multiple records. It is now Netflix's most-watched original animated film of all time, boasting more than 200 million views and 350 million hours watched, according to Netflix's Tudum. The movie follosed Huntr/x, a fictional K-pop girl group whose members are Rumi, Mira, and Zoey. By day, they are international music idols, but by night, they fight demons to protect the magical barrier known as the Honmoon. The film combines vibrant animation, Korean cultural elements, and high-energy music to deliver a unique experience that has captivated audiences worldwide. According to Entertainment Weekly, its soundtrack too has been a runaway success with the song Golden topping the Billboard Hot 100, making Huntr/x the first all-women K-pop group to hit No. 1 on the chart in 24 years. Other tracks like Your Idol and Soda Pop have also gone viral on social media and music streaming platforms. The soundtrack even peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. According to the EW report, the special event invites fans to experience the film in theatres with on-screen lyrics, encouraging everyone to sing along to their favorite songs. A spokesperson from Netflix told the Los Angeles Times that 1,700 screens in the US and Canada are participating in a sing-along event, with over 1,000 screenings already sold out. At an early preview screening in LA, fans described the sing-along format as an 'elevated experience', making the film feel more interactive, the report added. Tickets for KPop Demon Hunters: A sing-along event are already on sale through major theatre chains including Regal, Cinemark, and Alamo Drafthouse, according to LA Times report. International fans can also check local listings in their regions. For now, the sing-along version is exclusive to theatres and will not be streaming on Netflix. The sing-along event will be screening on August 23-24. According to Entertainment Weekly, while no sequel has been officially announced, media reports suggested that Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation are considering multiple follow-ups, including a possible live-action adaptation, short films, and even a stage musical. KPop Demon Hunters is currently streaming on Netflix. A: August 23 and 24, 2025. A: Theatres in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. A: About 1,700 screens in the US and Canada, with many showings already sold out. A: Currently, it is exclusive to theatres.
India.com
11 hours ago
- India.com
August 2025 K-Drama Watchlist: 8 New Shows You Cant Miss, From My Troublesome Star To The Nice Guy
photoDetails english 2949592 Updated:Aug 21, 2025, 09:09 PM IST My Troublesome Star 1 / 7 This romantic k-drama follows Im Se Ra (Jang Da A) who is on top of the world after becoming the youngest winner of a best actress award. Unfortunately, that same night, she's hit by a truck – and transported 25 years into the future, where she wakes up in the body of middle-aged woman Bong Cheong Ja (Uhm Jung Hwa). What will happen next will keep you hooked to screens. Streaming On - Viki , Release Date - August 18 Twelve 2 / 7 Twelve is an upcoming fantasy action superhero K-drama, it follows twelve angels, who live as humans, as they battle evil spirits to protect the Korean Peninsula. OTT Platform - Disney+/ Jio Hotstar, Release Date - August 23 The Nice Guy 3 / 7 My Girlfriend Is A Man! 4 / 7 Love, Take Two 5 / 7 Aema 6 / 7 Bon Appétit, Your Majesty 7 / 7
Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Indian Express
Wipro buys Digital Transformation Solutions unit of HARMAN for $375 mn
Wipro Ltd has entered into an agreement to acquire the US-based Digital Transformation Solutions (DTS) business unit of audio and technology company HARMAN, a unit of the South Korean conglomerate Samsung, at a cost of $375 million (around Rs 3,300 crore) in a transaction that will accelerate Wipro's mission to deliver next-generation engineering research & development (ER&D) services. As part of the agreement, over 5,600 DTS employees in 14 countries, including key leadership, across the Americas, Europe and Asia will transition to Wipro upon closing of the transaction. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close by December 31, 2025. 'Their specialised engineering expertise, combined with Wipro's consulting-led, AI-powered capabilities, will significantly enhance the value we deliver to clients. DTS' strong presence in high-growth sectors and strategic markets complements our global footprint and strengthens our position as a trusted transformation partner,' said Srini Pallia, CEO and Managing Director of Wipro. The DTS unit brings to Wipro a robust foundation in digital engineering and ER&D, with strengths spanning domain-led design, connected products, and software platforms. DTS sets itself apart with its purposeful integration of deep engineering with AI-native platforms, domain expertise, proprietary accelerators, and autonomous agent frameworks—enabling transformation at scale through technology designed around people, Wipro said. Christian Sobottka, CEO of HARMAN, added, 'This agreement unlocks the next chapter for the DTS business unit — one where it can scale faster, reach more clients in key industries, and fully realise its growth potential.' Headquartered in Connecticut, US, DTS is a global provider of ER&D services (comprising embedded software, digital engineering, design thinking, device engineering etc) and IT services (cloud & infra services, data analytics & AI, enterprise automation and customer experience) to the industrial, consumer, hi-tech (communication & software), and healthcare & lifesciences sectors. Consolidated revenue for the last three completed years (for the period ended December) stood at $315.0 million in calendar 2022 (CY22); $ 308.2 million in CY23) and $ 314.5 million in CY24. For CY24, 85 per cent of revenue would be services and 15 per cent would be product.
