Min Hee-jin, CEO of Ok Records and former CEO of Ador, has announced her return as a creator with the launch of a boy group project. Meanwhile, Ador, currently embroiled in a dispute with Min, has also announced a boy group audition as part of its rebranding efforts, raising the potential for a direct competition between the two.
After winning the first trial in a stock price settlement lawsuit against Hybe, CEO Min held a press conference on the 25th to read her statement. She proposed to forgo the 25.6 billion KRW she would gain from the victory, offering to immediately cease all ongoing civil and criminal lawsuits to end all disputes.
“The place for Hybe and me is not in court but on the creative stage,” she emphasized, revealing her plan to move forward as CEO of Ok Records without the “former Ador CEO” label. She declared her intention to “pour all my energy into nurturing new artists and new business directions.”
CEO Min recently established the new label Ok Records. During a live broadcast on the YouTube channel ‘Genre Only Yeouido’ last December, she hinted at a boy group launch plan, stating, “I don’t think I’ll create a girl group next. Maybe someday, but not now. If I do, it would be a boy group.”
In February, Ok Records announced its official launch by releasing campaign videos. The company announced plans for a new boy group, opening global auditions on its official website for boys born between 2008 and 2013, regardless of nationality.
Ok Records stated that its new project aims to “break away from conventional molds and focus on the inherent beauty of the boys and their musical narrative,” beginning with this audition and documenting the boy group’s creation process.
Coincidentally, Ador also announced the ‘Ador Boys Global Audition’ last June. After a long period of unrest stemming from an exclusive contract dispute with NewJeans, Ador unveiled a new brand film on the 25th and embarked on a rebranding journey.
In addition to the brand film, Ador is focusing on rebranding by introducing animations and various short-form content that reflect its new brand identity. With NewJeans members Hae-rin, Hye-in, and Hani confirmed to return, interest is growing in the potential direct competition between the two sides.
However, Hybe has filed an appeal against the first trial’s judgment. Following CEO Min’s proposal, Hybe told Xportsnews that it had “no comment.”
Image source: Xportsnews, Ador, Ok Records
