Korean audiences respond when Min Hee Jin is praised by British media

CEO Min Hee Jin is the producer who created the group NewJeans. Photo: Naver

The Financial Times, a British newspaper, published the article in May 2024, shortly after Min Hee Jin’s first iconic press conference since her feud with HYBE Group became public. But it was only recently that the Korean public learned of the article and expressed sympathy.

The newspaper describes Min Hee Jin's fight as a woman's fight against patriarchal workplace culture in South Korea.

The article highlighted Min Hee Jin's use of profanity specifically aimed at high-ranking men in the company, expressing the anger of young Korean women facing difficult situations at work due to male superiors.

Min Hee Jin's outrage has resonated with young South Korean women, who have been inspired by her criticism of male superiors in a country where women make up just 6 percent of CEOs at the top 100 companies.

“What CEO Min is going through is what we go through every day in a hierarchical, male-dominated corporate culture,” a 31-year-old woman working ineducation in Seoul told the newspaper. “She is saying what we dream of saying.”

Min Hee Jin made a big splash after her press conference against HYBE in April. Photo: Naver

Her girl group, NewJeans, is the fastest K-pop group to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify and topped the Billboard 200 album chart last year with their sophomore EP "Get Up."

“Min Hee Jin is the most important creative force in the entire K-pop industry,” said Kim Young Dae, a Korean pop culture critic.

“Before she came along, K-pop had become a victim of its own success, repeating old formulas in an effort to maintain its existing fan base.

But with NewJeans, she introduced a new trend of easygoing and nostalgic styles, which is the most important development in the industry in the last 5 years - Mr. Kim added.

K-pop critic Ha Jae Geun said Min Hee Jin’s battle with HYBE is not over yet. “Now that she is considered a hero to many young women, it will be harder for HYBE to deal with her,” he said.

Min Hee Jin and NewJeans members have a close relationship. Photo: Naver

Two months after the article was published, it received renewed attention from the Korean public, after a netizen reposted the article on the popular online forum theqoo.

The article on theqoo has now attracted nearly 45,000 views and more than 350 comments. Most of the opinions agree with the article's analysis, saying that Min Hee Jin's legal battle with HYBE is also a fight against patriarchy.

Korean audience comments:

“When HYBE did dirty media stunts to turn women against Min Hee Jin, no one agreed with them. Why do you think that was? They ignored it because they knew it was all bullshit.”

“No matter what K-pop fan community you belong to, if you are a woman, an ordinary worker, or an ordinary person, you have no reason to side with HYBE. There are probably a lot of people who like Min Hee Jin, but even those who don’t particularly like her have no choice but to side with her.”

“I support Min Hee Jin no matter what happens.”

“Yes. It's funny to see men get angry.”

“Min Hee Jin never aimed for feminism, she just asked for rational thinking."

“After watching the press conference, I was angry..., so I started cheering and gradually became a NewJeans fan.”

Source: https://laodong.vn/giai-tri/khan-gia-han-quoc-huong-ung-khi-min-hee-jin-duoc-truyen-thong-anh-ca-ngoi-1363023.ldo