Dispatch reports on alleged behind-the-scenes planning involving Min Hee-jin, including meetings in Japan and Hong Kong arrangements tied to NewJeans’ post-termination moves.
URL: https://www.dispatch.co.kr/2339106
Title: [Exclusive] “She even met a Japanese aristocrat grandfather”... Min Hee-jin’s blueprint for NewJeans’ breakdown
[Dispatch = Reporters Park Hye-jin · Lee A-jin] NewJeans said the following at their press conference announcing contract termination.
“Up to now, we will proceed with the schedules that have already been promised.” (November 28, 2024)
The very next day, they reversed course. They informed ADOR that they would refuse to participate in activities.
“It seems it will be difficult to film content exclusively for the Japanese fan club.” (November 29, 2024)
NewJeans boycotted the fan club kit that is produced every January, the New Year’s greeting, and ID filming. Instead, they flew to Japan—where they met a grandfather figure: the late Kazumichi Goh, known to be from a Japanese aristocratic background. He was 73.
Who called (NewJeans) there? Min Hee-jin.
Dispatch investigated Min Hee-jin’s hidden blueprint. Based on testimony and evidence from people who observed Min Hee-jin, we verified the facts. There are four newly identified “moves” that have not been disclosed in the current trial.
① The “aristocrat grandpa”
The late Kazumichi Goh. Born in 1954, he was a powerful figure in Japan’s racing world. In 1996 he founded Team Goh. In 2004, he lifted the trophy at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
He was known as a wealthy man. Goh’s maternal grandfather was Shojiro Ishibashi, the founder of Bridgestone. Goh’s grandfather was Takasabuda Goh, who served as an executive director at Nisshin Seifun.
Min Hee-jin met Kazumichi Goh in late 2024. According to sources, it was not a simple social visit. One close associate hinted, “Min Hee-jin needed money at the time. Then she was introduced to the Japanese grandfather.”
Min Hee-jin even summoned NewJeans to Tokyo. She gathered the full lineup for a meeting with him. Kazumichi Goh was a huge fan of NewJeans. It appears she actively leveraged the grandfather’s fandom.
② Tokyo contact
According to Dispatch’s reporting, NewJeans met the grandfather in Japan at least three times. In January, all members went. It has also been confirmed that in March and April they went again (separately and together).
NewJeans also celebrated his anniversary days. It is said they delivered birthday gifts and handwritten letters. A source close to NewJeans said, “Min Hee-jin said he was an important person. The members found it odd, but they prepared anyway.”
What did Min Hee-jin “explore” with this grandfather? A person familiar with the circumstances at the time speculated, “After they declared contract termination, they began meeting in earnest,” adding, “It seems they discussed investment.”
In March 2025, NewJeans released “Pit Stop” under the name NJZ. Was it a tribute song for Kazumichi Goh, the heavyweight of Japan’s racing scene? That may be the case—after all, ComplexCon was also Min Hee-jin’s work.
③ “Pit Stop”
On March 7, 2025, at the Seoul Central District Court, Civil Division 50. The court asked, “How are you preparing for the Hong Kong performance?” Even that day in court, NewJeans’ side concealed Min Hee-jin. They misled the court by saying, “The organizer is supporting it.”
“We still haven’t been able to find a planning company or agent related to the performance. Once the injunction decision comes out and the problem is resolved, we will do it. For now, the organizer is providing the necessary manpower.” (Sejong)
Dispatch obtained the contract drawn up between NewJeans’ side and Hong Kong ComplexCon. NewJeans’ appearance fee was $350,000 (about 500 million KRW). The consulting fee was $500,000. (This includes staff costs and more.)
Min Hee-jin, the parents, and the lawyers discussed the contract in a group chat. They signed it on December 18, 2024. However, to avoid issues such as tampering, Min Hee-jin did not put her own name front and center.
④ Hong Kong maneuvering
NewJeans used the stage as a forward base for independent activities. Defying the court’s decision, they pushed ahead with the performance and released the new song “Pit Stop.” What did Min Hee-jin want to show through the Hong Kong show?
Bonnie Chan Woo—she is a leading figure in China’s popular culture industry. As CEO of “Complex China,” she hosted the Hong Kong performance. (It turns out) Bonnie sent HYBE a proposal for a sale in October of last year as well.
Bonnie is said to have probed HYBE’s willingness to sell, saying, “I’ll buy 80% of ADOR’s shares for 400 billion KRW.” She added a condition: “Transfer 100% of the rights regarding the artist contract and overall operations.”
“We held discussions with NewJeans’ representatives. They said that even if they lose the contract-breach lawsuit, they have no intention of returning. If we acquire the shares, they plan to immediately resume creative activities, including music production and performances.” (Bonnie)
Who are the “NewJeans representatives” Bonnie refers to? One clear fact is that Min Hee-jin was consistently involved in the decision-making process. She was the invisible hand that prolonged the NewJeans situation.
⑤ Claiming victimhood
On March 21, 2025, NewJeans’ independent activities were put on the brakes. The court granted ADOR’s injunction to “preserve the agency’s status.” NewJeans reached a situation where they could not leave ADOR and proceed independently.
Nevertheless, on March 23, NewJeans announced they would “attend Hong Kong ComplexCon under the name NJZ.” At the same time, Min Hee-jin and Danielle’s mother built up the narrative that “NewJeans and ADOR cannot be together.”
Below is a conversation between Min Hee-jin and Danielle’s mother obtained by Dispatch.
Danielle’s mom: Can’t the members refuse to attend ADOR, saying they feel psychological pressure?
Danielle’s mom: It seems like it would help the main case.
Min Hee-jin: Yes. Post it on the (NJZ) PR account.
Danielle’s mom: Respond by saying they’re anxious because they don’t know how ADOR might interfere or smear them.
Min Hee-jin: Write it briefly like this. I’ll revise it.
Min Hee-jin sought to overturn the injunction result in the main trial. By appealing to mental distress—“We feel unsafe if ADOR is involved”—they built justification for invalidating the exclusive contract. The “desk” behind this statement was Min Hee-jin.
⑥ Contract termination
Min Hee-jin won the “put option” lawsuit. The key to victory was the claim: “There were explorations, but they were not carried out.” In other words, a failed exploration became the reason she secured 25.5 billion KRW.
But Min Hee-jin did more than merely explore. She took direct action. At 7:30 p.m. on November 28, 2024, NewJeans’ press conference declaring “contract termination” was, in fact, Min Hee-jin’s production.
Dispatch obtained evidence that Min Hee-jin directed the scene (from behind the scenes). We also secured testimony that Min Hee-jin personally wrote the press conference script and had the members memorize it.
Min Hee-jin was also involved in preparing the rebuttal press release. She personally decided the distribution time and method. A statement was released under NewJeans’ name, but the ghostwriter was Min Hee-jin.
⑦ The “essence of the work”
On November 14, 2024, NewJeans sent a certified letter. They formally demanded, “Restore Min Hee-jin as CEO.” At the same time, they requested an apology from HYBE. The deadline to respond was two weeks.
Min Hee-jin submitted her resignation six days after the letter was sent (on the 20th). She also posted a message: “There must not be actions driven by one person’s malice that damage the essence of the work. It was really bad.”
After Min Hee-jin left the company, NewJeans announced contract termination. They protected her, saying, “We haven’t spoken separately with CEO Min Hee-jin. The CEO probably thinks the same as we do.”
Min Hee-jin was an inside director at ADOR. Yet (behind the scenes) she plotted NewJeans’ contract termination. And one week before the press conference, she resigned first. It is suspected to be a tactic to avoid liability such as breach of trust.
⑧ The true colors of “exploration”
“It is acknowledged that an independent plan was explored…. However, it appears that the aforementioned KakaoTalk independence plan was halted here due to HYBE’s audit initiation on April 22, 2024.” (The court)
Min Hee-jin secured 25.5 billion KRW with the “technique” of exploration. But how will the “record” of exploration be written?
Inducing an inappropriate relationship with a senior executive, sounding out investors to probe an exit, designing an exclusive-contract termination while serving as an inside director, mobilizing the members to meet a grandfather, putting them on the Hong Kong stage to test independent activities, attempting tampering while holding NJZ in hand…
Min Hee-jin kept exploring. The only reason it wasn’t carried out was because she got caught. It wasn’t merely about running numbers on a calculator. She stopped only because it was exposed—and continued to shake the company (in hiding). As a result, Min Hee-jin ended up “OK,” and only NewJeans became “not OK.”
<Photo sources = Autosport, Team Goh, Dispatch DB>
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