Source Music Submits Evidence To Claim Credit For NJZ’s Hanni, Hyein, and Minji

The feud between former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin and Source Music continues to intensify as new evidence surfaces over who truly cast and developed NJZ (formerly NewJeans).

During the fourth hearing of Source Music’s ₩500 million KRW (about $345,000 USD) damages lawsuit against Min at the Seoul Western District Court, Source Music submitted trainee contract videos to counter Min’s claim that she personally cast the NJZ members.

In one such video, member Haerin’s mother is heard saying, “It’s amazing that the SOURCE MUSIC casting manager even came out to Anyang.” In the case of member Danielle, she had been a trainee at another agency, and when the staff member in charge moved to Source Music, she was cast there. In Danielle’s video her mother says, “If debut isn’t confirmed, please let us choose whether to stay at Source Music or transfer.” Source Music says these recordings show the members were selected by Source Music.

They also emphasized claim over Hyein, Hanni, and Minji in particular. This was as Min was not involved in their casting unlike her previous claims. Haerin and Danielle entered the company later, after Min was already involved.

“In the case of member Hyein, the CEO at Source Music (then So Seong Jin) personally stepped in to persuade her parents, and Min Hee Jin had never even served as a judge in the audition that selected member Hanni. Furthermore, member Minji had been selected by Source Music even before Min joined the company.”

Source Music asserted that these videos prove the group was discovered and developed within Source Music, not by Min herself. The label also released internal messages and transcripts from 2021 showing Min allegedly requesting NJZ be transferred to her own label, contradicting her claim that HYBE prevented her from debuting them as HYBE’s first girl group.