Min Hee-jin says she will launch a boy band, dismisses NewJeans rivalry as auditions flood in

Min Hee-jin / Captured from YTN

Min Hee-jin, former Ador CEO and the head of newly founded agency OOAK Records, has publicly addressed her next move in the K-pop industry, confirming plans to launch a boy band while firmly rejecting any notion of creating a rival to NewJeans.

Appearing live on YTN Radio’s program “Kim Jun-woo’s News Head-On” on Friday, Min spoke openly about her future plans and responded directly to questions surrounding her departure from Ador and her association with NewJeans, the globally popular girl group she previously produced.

Min founded OOAK Records in October last year and has since completed corporate registration. Recently, the agency drew attention after opening applications for a closed, in-person audition in partnership with a well-known dance academy — a move that quickly sparked speculation and online buzz about the kind of group she might be preparing.

When the host asked whether the new label was preparing to debut a boy group, Min answered candidly. “There’s no reason for me to create a rival to NewJeans,” she said. “If you look at my creative style and the flow of what I’ve done so far, a boy group comes next.”

She added that interest from aspiring artists has exceeded expectations. “I’m grateful, but my direct messages have been flooded with applicants,” she said, noting that proposals have extended beyond traditional idol projects. “I’ve also received suggestions for completely new kinds of work that aren’t even idol-related, and I’m reviewing those as well.”

Min emphasized that her long-term goal goes beyond launching a single group. “What I really want is to build a company that’s fun and creatively interesting,” she said.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.