NEW JEANS MAMA and Her GIRLS Throw ANOTHER TANTRUM

Attention all K-POP shoppers. There’s a cookie tantrum on aisle 16. New Jeans Mama Min Hee-jin sent HYBE a notice that she’d like to cash out her non-existent stock options. However, HYBE already announced and filed legal measures to confirm that her stock option agreement is no longer valid. Yet, even if she did get her way, observers are mystified why Ms. Min would want to cash out at a significant loss now when she could just wait a couple of months for a larger sum.

Meanwhile, the New Jeans members threw out another ultimatum at HYBE. Among their eight-point declaration, they wanted a formal apology from Illit’s manager and the reinstatement of Min Hee-jin as the CEO of ADOR. If they don’t get what they want by November 27, the girls have threatened to cancel their exclusive contract. But based on what legal grounds? And with what kind of financial backing?

The timing of all of this seems suspicious as there are reports that a potential deal fell through with a wi-fi router manufacturer that would have acquired Min Hee-jin and New Jeans. Plus, did Min Hee-jin time this drama to get in the way of Illit’s new release, BTS Jin’s new album and Le Sserafim’s successful overseas performance? So sus.