Rumors are resurfacing that former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin removed two members from NewJeans just before the group's debut after allegedly consulting a shaman. Recent online buzz claims that NewJeans was originally set to debut as a seven-member group, but Youngseo and Harin were dropped at the last minute.
Youngseo later trained under ILLIT's label but did nto make the final lineup, eventually debuting with ALLDAY PROJECT, where she has been gaining significant attention. Harin, a Japanese member, is now pursuing an acting career. She recently appeared on the YouTube show 'Nice to Eat You!' and shared her journey in the Korean entertainment industry.
During the interview, Harin revealed she had signed a contract and was told she would debut soon, but was suddenly informed her contract was terminated, with no specific reason given. She explained she was the only member being removed from the group. Harin shared, "But... one day I was suddenly notified of contract termination. Just me. It was so tough then. Of course, as trainees, many leave midway. I thought my time would come, but I reached the debut stage, then this happened. I was shocked and hurt."
She revealed she was completely cut off from contact and shared, "I wanted to greet the CEO but couldn't. I wasn't even allowed to see the members even before my flight back to Japan. I felt really betrayed by the people I trusted. It was years ago. It was tough, but now those hard experiences have helped me work harder."
Her latest account has re-fueled speculation that Min Hee Jin had decided to remove Harin and Youngseo based on advice from a shaman, who allegedly claimed it was "bad" for the group to debut with them.
Min Hee Jin previously faced backlash over leaked messages suggesting she sought guidance from a shaman, known as “Jiyeongnim0814” and identified as Ms. Lee, for decisions regarding ADOR’s operations and member selections. She was accused of breach of trust for allegedly sharing private company information, but denied the claims, calling Ms. Lee “just an acquaintance.” Both have since remained silent, with Ms. Lee disappearing from public view.
Harin's recent comments have reignited the controversy, sparking renewed debate about the alleged role of a shaman in NewJeans’ pre-debut lineup decisions.
Korean netizens commented:
"She's so pretty."
"A shaman, f*** lolol."
"Wow..."
"Skill can be developed anyway. What really matters is attitude and mindset."
"She really has the NewJeans look."
"I don’t know about her talent, but cutting someone with that face from the debut lineup is puzzling. If she’s already in the debut team, she’s basically been vetted. Really… the more you dig, the more creepy stories you find."
"Blocking her from even saying goodbye is cruel lol. She could at least say farewell."
"Not even letting her say goodbye? That’s insane control."
"Whether or not they listened to a shaman, the end result was that the 5-member format became the top group. Talking about a 6-member format or swapping members is meaningless now. The comments here are just from people typing away, and setting aside legal issues, the results speak for Min Hee Jin."
"But isn’t that shaman super accurate then?"
"If she’d debuted with NewJeans, she could’ve made 10 billion KRW (7.2 million USD). What a waste."
SEE ALSO: Rumors resurface that Min Hee Jin removed two NewJeans members after consulting a shaman
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