Bada, the veteran K-pop star from the influential girl group S.E.S, has publicly expressed her support for fellow K-pop group NewJeans as they navigate a turbulent situation involving their former CEO, Min Hee-jin, and their label owner, HYBE.
The conflict intensified last month when HYBE announced that Min Hee-jin would step down as CEO of ADOR, the label that manages NewJeans. This decision followed several months of disagreement between the two parties. Concerned for the well-being of NewJeans, the group recently shared their uneasiness with fans through their community app. In response, Bada took to social media to express her empathy.
In her Instagram story, Bada shared a clip of NewJeans member Hanni performing an original song, which she remarked was especially moving. "My heart is really hurting. I’m sure the fans of NewJeans are hurting as much as the members," she wrote, highlighting the emotional toll that public controversies can have on young artists. "Can't adults be wiser or more tender so that kids who are just starting to realize their dreams don't get hurt?" she added, signifying her concern for the emerging talents involved.
Bada's support is not a new sentiment towards NewJeans; she previously shared a photo of the group back in April when the issues between HYBE and Min were first made public. She reflected on the challenges young artists face, stating, "Amid the complicated stories of adults, imagine how hard it must have been for these young ones when just preparing an album is tough enough."
As the situation develops, fans have voiced their opinions, with over 1,000 fans reportedly signing an open letter to HYBE calling for the reinstatement of Min Hee-jin as the ADOR CEO, further illustrating the concern surrounding the future of NewJeans. For more on this ongoing saga, read here.