NewJeans’ Min Hee-Jin’s mother exposes HYBE: Minji lived in dorm filled with cockroaches and mold

The parents recall being barred from entering the dormitory, preventing them from checking on her regularly.

The parents of NewJeans have spoken out. As the legal guardians of the minor members, they chose to break their silence after an article on the 23rd detailed the alleged “Min Hee-Jin's plot to take NewJeans” and HYBE's subsequent response.

In an interview with Business & Sports World, the parents conveyed their determination to support Min Hee-Jin and ADOR until the end and urged HYBE to stop their counter-viral actions.

Minji's mother reminisced about the happiness when Minji transitioned from Source Music to ADOR, sharing previously untold stories of her trainee days at Source Music.

Minji began her trainee journey at Source Music when she was 13, living alone in Seoul. Her mother recalled the shock of visiting Minji's dorm a year later, finding mold in the corners and cockroaches everywhere. "Thinking about Minji enduring such harsh conditions in silence still breaks my heart," she said.

Parents were barred from entering the dormitory, preventing Minji's mother from checking on her regularly. It wasn't until a year later, during a move, that she saw her daughter's living conditions."The dormitory was filled with mold in the corners and cockroaches everywhere. It was shocking," she shared. 

The difficult environment was compounded by the endless waiting. "Like any trainee, it was a continuous wait. What made it worse for Minji was Source Music's lack of explanation or plans for her future," her mother remembered. Despite this, Minji would work late into the night, often traveling alone in the dark.

Minji's mother disclosed that Minji frequently had to return home alone after midnight. "They would make a 14-year-old girl commute alone after 2 AM without any security or support," she said. Minji often called her mother in fear while walking home in the dark.

Minji was dedicated to her studies, often going straight to school after practice and waiting at the school gate from 6 AM to avoid missing classes. However, Source Music pressured her to abandon her education. “When Minji was about to enter high school, they said it would be too hard to balance regular school and training and suggested she not attend,” her mother explained.

Despite Source Music's lack of plans for her future, Minji was determined to continue her education and managed to get into an arts high school with minimal preparation. "Minji's strong will to pursue her dream kept her going in those harsh conditions," her mother emphasized.

When Source Music joined HYBE, there was hope that Minji would debut with their new girl group. However, Minji felt sidelined when a famous entertainer's daughter was suddenly added to the lineup. Minji's mother emphasized Min Hee-Jin's dedication, stating, "Min Hee-Jin never abandoned the kids she took under her wing. This is how NewJeans came to be."