A post titled “The Biggest Problem with NewJeans“ is trending on Korean forum Pann, sparking heated discussion about how the group, and those managing them, may have misread the dynamics of public opinion.
The original poster wrote:
“More than anything else, I think their biggest flaw was believing that public opinion equals power, authority, and truth, and assuming that public support would always be in their favor.”
The critique seems aimed not just at the group itself but at the broader strategy behind their image management and promotional approach. It suggests that NewJeans and their team may have grown too confident in the consistency of public favor, overlooking the fast-changing nature of fandom and media narratives.
As online discourse intensifies surrounding the legal dispute between NewJeans’ agency ADOR and parent company HYBE, many netizens have begun sharply criticizing both the group and its executive producer Min Hee-jin.
Comments on Pann:
- They got where they are thanks to the backing of a major corporation and top-tier infrastructure, yet they act like every bit of success was earned solely through their own power, delusional. They’re just another factory-made idol group, and even then, their skills are far below average. Still, they act like they’re some irreplaceable legends like Michael Jackson or Whitney Houston. And they seriously believe Min Hee-jin is truly on their side.
- Those “Bunnies” or whatever, those bug-like fans, ran around spamming links and stirring up chaos everywhere. That definitely played a part too.
- Look at the top comment, LOL. Min-chin-jis (slang for hardcore Min Hee-jin fans) are completely out of touch. What? You’re saying if she had just criticized HYBE, you would’ve continued supporting her? LOL. Do you even remember why Min Hee-jin and NewJeans started attacking HYBE in the first place? It was all just a setup to eventually leave HYBE—spreading ridiculous rumors about cults, bullying, and creepy executives to paint HYBE as some evil corporation. That was the whole play. Let’s get real: HYBE and Bang Si-hyuk are the actual victims here. They invested in her, and she turned around and stabbed them in the back. Min Hee-jin and her crew are the ungrateful traitors in this story. Wake up, seriously.
- Well, to be fair, it kind of made sense at first. After that Min Hee-jin press conference, she practically became a national meme—everyone was parodying her and showing support. If she had just kept it at fighting HYBE, the public probably would’ve stayed on her side. But then she suddenly started demanding contract termination, and that’s where everything went off the rails. If she had continued simply calling HYBE out, she’d probably still be getting public sympathy. But standing in court asking for termination without solid legal grounds? That’s where she lost everyone.
- Exactly. If she had just kept targeting HYBE, the public would’ve stayed with her. But the legal overreach, pushing for contract cancellation, crossed a line. That’s when the support started collapsing.
While NewJeans continues to enjoy a strong fan base and commercial success, the conversation now turns toward how both idols and management teams navigate shifting loyalties and maintain authenticity in the face of growing scrutiny.
