Min Hee Jin, former CEO of ADOR, who has long referred to herself as “NewJeans’ mom,” is facing growing backlash after appearing to shift responsibility toward the group’s members and their families as legal accountability comes into focus. The guardian-like narrative she had carefully built showed visible cracks as she now faces lawsuits reportedly totaling around 10 billion KRW (6.9 million USD).
On January 28, Min’s side convened an emergency press conference, saying it would reveal “the truth behind the NewJeans tampering allegations.” However, Min herself did not appear. The briefing lasted two hours and 14 minutes, during which more time was spent disputing where responsibility lies than clearly explaining the substance of the allegations.
During the press conference, Min’s legal representatives flatly denied the tampering claims while directly mentioning a family member of a NewJeans member, as well as a specific business figure. They also sought to place responsibility on external parties, including HYBE CEO Lee Jae Sang. Rather than clarifying the core allegations, critics say the approach appeared to diffuse blame across multiple individuals.
Public reaction following the press conference was notably cold. Many criticized Min for continuing to evade responsibility, and in particular for publicly invoking members’ families at a time when legal risks were escalating.
Criticism has begun to surface even within fandoms that had previously supported Min Hee Jin. Some fans questioned the contradiction of someone who spoke so often about “protection” turning to members’ families in a moment of defense, signaling visible cracks in her support base.
Min Hee Jin has repeatedly described herself as “NewJeans’ mom,” emphasizing that both the members and their families trusted her. This latest press conference, however, directly clashes with that self-crafted image. Questions are growing louder about why she chose this moment to bring families into the conversation, especially as no sufficient explanation was provided.
Amid the controversy, past private remarks attributed to Min have resurfaced online, including comments perceived as disparaging the members’ appearances or expressing emotional volatility. These have reignited doubts over whether the “NewJeans mom” narrative was ever grounded in sincerity.
Adding to the symbolism, an old meme that circulated widely last year - “CEO… what are we supposed to do now?” - has reemerged. Many say the image of vulnerable figures seeking protection, only to be ignored, now eerily mirrors the current situation.
Ultimately, the press conference did more to dismantle Min Hee Jin’s carefully cultivated “NewJeans mom” persona than to clarify the tampering allegations themselves. What remains is not the image of a protector, but that of a central figure awaiting legal judgment for her own decisions. Regardless of the court’s eventual ruling, restoring public trust appears to be an uphill battle.
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