Adore, a label under HYBE, is changing its leadership. Kim Joo-young has been removed as CEO, and Lee Do-kyung, the vice president, has been appointed as the new CEO.
According to HYBE on the 20th, the Adore board of directors replaced CEO Kim Joo-young and appointed vice president Lee Do-kyung as the new CEO.
Adore explained that the background for appointing the new CEO is to fully operationalize the label as one that plans and manages artist activities such as albums and performances.
Previously, Adore appointed CEO Kim Joo-young, an HR management expert, last August to separate production and management and normalize the organization and management through appropriate human resource placement.
The Adore board of directors has determined that the initial goals have been achieved and decided to appoint the new CEO, who is well-versed in label management practices, to promote the growth of affiliated artists and the label while transitioning to an operational system that allows for quick support of artist activities and business initiatives.
However, Adore did not reach the targeted operational system, leading to the replacement of CEO Kim Joo-young exactly one year after his appointment. Initially, Adore was launched under former CEO Min Hee-jin, but he was dismissed amid legal disputes related to allegations of management rights theft involving HYBE.
The new CEO joined HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) in 2019 and has been involved in establishing the company's overall vision and business strategy while pursuing various new business initiatives. In particular, he served as the vice president of the IPX business division, which promotes artist IP-based businesses for HYBE Music Group artists in 2022, playing a pivotal role in enhancing solution businesses utilizing artist IP. He oversaw pop-up stores and light stick businesses for all HYBE artists and planned and promoted the large-scale collaboration project 'The City,' which applies artist IP across cities where performances are held to provide fans with various entertainment options.
With the appointment of the new CEO, Adore has established an immediate support system for artist activities and an advanced personnel structure. Adore is home to the group NewJeans and is preparing to produce new artists by holding the '2025 Adore Boys Global Audition' to recruit members for the next-generation boy group.
In the case of NewJeans, there are ongoing legal disputes regarding the validity of their exclusive contract with Adore. Adore hopes for the members' return, but the members have refused, resulting in a complete halt of activities.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
