Min was born in 1979. She attended
Seoul Women's University, where she received a degree in visual design.[1]
Career
2002–2018: SM Entertainment
Min joined
SM Entertainment in 2002 as a graphic designer. She was later promoted to creative director and led the visual branding of groups such as
Girls' Generation,
Shinee,
f(x),
Exo and
Red Velvet.[2] Her role involved overseeing the planning and production of album artwork, costumes and music videos, as well as building the artist's brand identity through non-visual means. For instance, she created an exhibition to commemorate the release of f(x)'s 4 Walls album (2015), and engaged fans in a deductive game titled "Pathcode" as part of promotions for Exo's 2015 album Exodus.[3] During her tenure at SM, she received attention for her innovative, experimental approach to art direction, which differed from the formulaic style used by first-generation
K-pop idols.[4] Min is credited with shifting the visual direction of the K-pop industry to become more concept-driven,[5][6] and is particularly noted for her work on f(x)'s 2013 album Pink Tape.[7] She joined SM's board of directors in 2017,[2] but left the company at the end of 2018 due to burnout.[1][8]
2019–present: Hybe Corporation
Min joined
Hybe Corporation in 2019 as chief brand officer and oversaw the company's rebranding.[2] She was appointed CEO of Hybe's new subsidiary ADOR (All Doors One Room) in November 2021. Min shared in a statement, "Our label won't hesitate to accept new challenges and strive to create artist IP and content containing ADOR's unique philosophy."[9] The label unveiled its first girl group
NewJeans in July 2022,[10] with Min leading their creative direction and development.[9] They released their
debut self-titled extended play on August 1.[10] In 2023, Min was awarded the Seoul City Culture Award by the
Seoul Metropolitan Government for her work with NewJeans.[11]
Controversies
Sexualization of minors
Min has been accused by online users of drawing inspirations for the groups she manages from sexually charged media that involve minors. Min was seen sharing pictures of her apartment on Instagram which showcased images that refer to the 1974 film I'll Take Her Like a Father, among others. Min has also been accused of allowing revealing clothes that mimic those of school girls for
f(x) and sexual innuendos on the lyrics of the track
Cookie for
NewJeans. In response, ADOR announced they have taken legal action against the allegations.[12][13][14][15]
Dispute with Hybe
On April 22, 2024, Hybe Corporation called for the resignation of Min as the CEO of ADOR in the wake of an internal audit conducted amidst allegations of Min and another management official's attempts to establish ADOR as an independent entity.[16][17] In response, Min issued a public statement refuting these allegations, claiming that it is impossible for her to establish ADOR as an independent entity without the consent of Hybe Corporation.[18] Min claimed that she was asked to resign because of her complaint that Hybe Corporation and its subsidiary label, Belift Lab, have been ignoring the creative similarities between NewJeans and
Illit, who debuted in March 2024 under Belift Lab. She believed that Hybe and Belift have failed to address accusations of Illit appropriating NewJeans' unique image, ranging from their musical style to their fashion. Following these developments, Hybe Corporation's share value experienced a decline of 8.03%.[19][20] Min held an emergency
press conference on April 25, 2024, accompanied by two lawyers to discuss the allegations raised, where Min's lawyer stated that it would have been impossible to seize control of ADOR since Hybe still owned 80% of the shares.[21]
Awards and nominations
Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nomination
^
abJo, Hae-ram (July 1, 2019).
SM→빅히트 민희진 누구?...아이돌에 의미를 입힌 '컨셉트 장인' [SM → Big Hit. Who is Min Hee-jin? The 'concept craftsman' who gave meaning to idols]. Money Today (in Korean).
Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Park, Soo-yoon (July 11, 2018).
[음악계 우먼파워] ③SM엔터테인먼트 민희진 이사 [[Woman Power in the Music Industry] ③ SM Entertainment Director Min Hee-jin]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean).
Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
^Hong, Hye-min (July 7, 2022).
[HI★초점] 민희진 걸그룹, 하이브의 틀을 깨라 [[HI Focus] Min Hee-jin's girl group breaks the mould of Hybe]. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean).
Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Choi, Hee-jae (December 2, 2021).
민희진 "SM 이사 1년만 퇴사→하이브行...이수만과 울었다" (유퀴즈)[종합] [Min Hee-jin: "I quit my job as SM director after one year → Hybe... I cried with Lee Soo-man" (Yoo Quiz) [General]]. Xports News (in Korean).
Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Yoo, Jung-min (October 20, 2023).
'뉴진스' 키워낸 민희진 대표, '서울시 문화상' 수상 [Min Hee-jin, CEO who raised 'NewJeans', won the 'Seoul City Culture Award'] (in Korean).
iMBC.
Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
^Lee, Sun-myung (July 28, 2022).
하이브 민희진 '롤리타 성향' 논란...뉴진스 론칭 거부감 확산 [Controversy over Min Hee-jin from Hybe's 'Lolita tendency'... Spreading disapproval for NewJeans' debut]. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean).
Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
^Hwang, Hye-jin (August 10, 2022).
민희진, 로리타 의심 악성루머 고소 "뉴진스 악플러도 선처 NO" [Min Hee-jin sues over Lolita malicious rumours. "No mercy towards NewJeans' malicious commenters."]. Newsen (in Korean).
Archived from the original on May 11, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
^Choi, Jae-won (February 2, 2023).
뉴진스 소속사가 '악플러' 대거 고소하자, "여자만 팬다"며 난리난 여초 커뮤 회원들 [After NewJeans' agency sued a large number of 'malicious commenters', members of the female community went crazy saying, "Only women are targeted."]. Insight (in Korean).
Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
^Kim, Ji-ho (April 22, 2024).
""하이브 비공개 문건 빼와"...민희진, 부정행위 포착 감사" ["Take Hybe's private documents"... Min Hee-jin audited to uncover misconduct]. Dispatch (in Korean).
Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
^"[단독] 민희진 대표 “어떤 투자자도 만난 적 없다..내부 고발을 했을 뿐” (인터뷰)" [[Exclusive] CEO Min Hee-jin "I have never met any investors...I just filed an internal complaint" (Interview)]. 일간스포츠 (in Korean). April 23, 2024.
Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
^'뉴진스 키운' 민희진, '2023 대한민국 콘텐츠 대상' 대통령표창 수상 [Min Hee-jin, 'New Jeans Raised', receives the Presidential Commendation at the '2023 Korea Content Awards']. JTBC (in Korean). December 15, 2023.
Archived from the original on December 25, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2023 – via
Naver.
^Choi, Hyun-seok (December 2, 2016).
MAMA 베스트 제작자상 방시혁·프로듀서상 블랙아이드필승 [MAMA Best Producer Award Bang Si-hyuk, Producer Award Black Eyed Pilseung]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean).
Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Yoon, Ki-baek (November 30, 2022).
"뉴진스 제작자' 민희진, 브레이크아웃 프로듀서상 [2022 MAMA AWARDS]" ['New Jeans Producer' Min Hee-jin, Breakout Producer Award [2022 MAMA AWARDS]]. Edaily (in Korean).
Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via
Naver.