Korean entertainment company HYBE has issued a warning against malicious posts targeting K-pop girl group NewJeans.
HYBE, not NewJeans’ label ADOR, issued the warning on April 25 amid the company’s rift with CEO Min Hee-jin.
In the statement, HYBE announced that “NewJeans plans to continue various activities, including the release of a new song music video scheduled for the 27th and the release of double singles in May and June.”
“We will do our best to support New Jeans so that their comeback activities are not hindered,” it said.
The company said, “Recently, many malicious posts that infringe upon artists' rights and interests and harm their reputations, including defamation, baseless malicious slander, ridicule and disparagement, have been detected.”
“We have been taking regular legal action against NewJeans, but we have determined that malicious acts against members have reached a serious level, so we have decided to appoint an additional law firm to respond in order to protect the rights and interests of artists,” HYBE added.
It said, “In order to protect NewJeans, HYBE will collect all information that infringes on the rights and interests of artists and take all possible legal actions. We would like to inform you that we will respond strongly by applying the principles of leniency and zero tolerance without agreement, consistent with our existing legal response policy.”
“In addition, we plan to support the artists in both material and material ways for their psychological healing and emotional stability. We earnestly ask you to stop the indiscriminate attacks and belittling towards artists,” it said.
On April 25, HYBE said it will report Min Hee-jin to the police for breach of trust amid suspicions that she and others at ADOR planned a takeover of the company.
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