2024 K-POP Shaken by Scandals and Conflicts: Internal Turmoil Amid Global Influence

2024 was a year that brought numerous shocks to the K-POP industry. Alongside global success, conflicts between companies and various scandals disrupted the entire sector. The biggest issue was the dispute between Minhee Jin, former CEO of HYBE’s subsidiary ADOR, and HYBE’s management. Minhee Jin was responsible for the visual branding of major groups such as EXO, SHINee, and Girls' Generation under SM Entertainment, and he is known as the former executive who drove NewJeans’ success. Thanks to his feminine image and retro sound, NewJeans secured a distinct position in the industry. In April, Minhee Jin was accused of attempting to take control of ADOR and bring NewJeans away from the company. He denied these charges, claiming that the conflict between ADOR and HYBE originated from suspicions that ILLIT, a girl group under HYBE’s Belift Lab, had imitated NewJeans’ style. On August 27, Minhee Jin was dismissed from his role as ADOR CEO. In September, NewJeans expressed concerns over the CEO change through a YouTube live stream and demanded Minhee Jin’s return. On October 15, Minhee Jin’s member Hanni appeared as a witness before South Korea’s National Assembly Labor Committee, testifying about workplace harassment and exclusion, and revealed that a manager at a HYBE-affiliated music label had instructed other artists to ignore her. On November 28, NewJeans announced that their contract with ADOR would expire at midnight on November 29, and since no breach of contract occurred, they would not have to pay any termination fees. However, ADOR maintains that the contract remains valid until 2029, keeping the dispute ongoing. The K-POP industry was also shaken by other controversies. In October, under scrutiny from South Korea’s National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, the “Weekly Music Industry Report” was exposed. The original report, consisting of over 10,000 pages, contained harsh evaluations of many musicians, including underage artists, which angered K-POP fans. The report included negative assessments such as claiming BLACKPINK’s fame relied heavily on their performance at Coachella, suggesting that Lisa’s appearance at the Crazy Horse cabaret in Paris could damage BLACKPINK’s reputation, and alleging that Lisa’s wins at international music awards were the result of improper conduct. Groups from other labels such as RIIZE, LE SSERAFIM, NMIXX, NCT Dream, Stray Kids, BabyMonster, and Aespa also became targets of negative comments regarding their appearance or performance skills. HYBE CEO Lee Jae-sang eventually apologized for the controversial internal report, admitting that its content was inappropriate, but explained that it was a collection of public opinions. SUGA of BTS drew attention due to allegations of drunk driving, while Taeil of NCT caused shock after being accused of sexual violence. JENNY of BLACKPINK sparked controversy over indoor smoking at a fashion event in Italy but quickly apologized. In contrast, ROSE, JENNY’s bandmate, made headlines with positive news, and SEUNGHAN of RIIZE returned to the group after taking time off but announced his departure the following day due to strong negative reactions from fans and critics. This series of scandals and conflicts exposed internal structural problems within the K-POP industry and a lack of transparency in corporate governance, revealing the dark realities behind its global success.