Former ADOR CEO and producer Min Hee Jin, best known for creating and leading the success of NewJeans, has reportedly founded her own entertainment company. This marks her first major move since leaving ADOR and HYBE amid an ongoing legal dispute.
According to reports from Korean media outlets on October 24, Min’s new company is registered under the name (Only One Always Known) OOAK Co., Ltd. and was officially incorporated on October 16, 2025.
The company will operate as a K-pop agency. It will handle celebrity management, music production and distribution, event planning, brand management, and even broadcast production and publishing. Its registered capital is 30 million won (around $21,000), and Min Hee Jin is listed as an internal director and board member.
OOAK’s headquarters are located in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul. Some reports suggest a new building is also under construction in nearby Sinsa-dong. The agency’s broad business scope also includes mobile platform development, fashion and merchandise sales, and travel-related services. It appears that Min Hee Jin intends to create a multi-dimensional entertainment and lifestyle company.
This move comes nearly a year after her departure from ADOR, the HYBE subsidiary she once led, amid her ongoing legal battles with HYBE over shareholder disputes and the management of NewJeans. Since leaving ADOR in late 2024, Min has remained mostly silent publicly, focusing on the lawsuits and keeping a low profile. This new company is her first concrete step toward returning to the entertainment industry.
What’s drawing even more attention, however, is the timing. The announcement comes just days before a crucial court ruling in the exclusive contract dispute between NewJeans and ADOR, set for October 30. The outcome of that trial could significantly influence the future of both Min Hee Jin and the members of NewJeans.
In the ongoing case, ADOR filed a lawsuit seeking to confirm the validity of NewJeans’ exclusive contracts. It was after the group held a press conference in November 2024, claiming unfair treatment and announcing their intention to terminate their contracts.
The group, at one point, even began using the name NJZ for independent promotions. However, ADOR responded by filing an injunction to preserve its status as the group’s agency and prevent the members from signing independent endorsement deals. The injunction was granted by the court earlier this year.
If the court sides with NewJeans on October 30, industry insiders speculate that the members could potentially join Min Hee Jin’s new agency, OOAK. However, others note that such a move remains uncertain, as the injunction still legally binds the group to ADOR until further rulings are made.
Despite the uncertainty, many see the establishment of OOAK as a strategic move for Min Hee Jin. She is widely credited with redefining the aesthetics and musical direction of 4th-gen K-pop through NewJeans’ minimalist style, retro visuals, and organic storytelling. It was a contrast to the industry’s typically high-concept approach.
For now, Min has not made any public statements regarding her new agency or future projects.
