Min Hee-jin, HYBE’s Chief Branding Officer, is not only known for her corporate role but also for challenging patriarchal norms inside the K-pop industry, according to the Financial Times.
The British media outlet highlighted Min’s recent public confrontation with HYBE executives during a press conference, which has struck a chord with many Korean women facing male-dominated corporate cultures daily. With only 6% of executive positions in Korea’s top 100 companies held by women, Min’s actions are seen as a bold challenge to prevailing gender inequalities.
Youn Hye-shin, a 31-year-old in Seoul’s education sector, expressed solidarity with Min, stating, “What Min is experiencing is what so many of us go through every day in our male-dominated, hierarchical corporate culture.” She added, “She is saying out loud what we dream of saying.”
Min Hee-jin’s career journey was also highlighted by FT, starting as an entry-level graphic designer at SM Entertainment in 2002 and rising to become HYBE’s Chief Branding Officer in 2019. Her influence is evident, with projects like NewJeans’ successful second EP “Get Up,” which topped the Billboard 200 chart and introduced a new trend in K-pop called ‘easy listening,’ as noted by critics.
FT addressed the recent tensions between Min Hee-jin and HYBE, including her internal whistleblowing in the company and controversies over plagiarism involving NewJeans and ILLIT, HYBE’s latest girl group.
Min Hee-jin’s bold actions and unwavering stance against patriarchal structures in the K-pop industry continue to inspire Korean women and spark important conversations about gender equality and workplace dynamics in corporate Korea.
Her journey and advocacy reflect broader challenges faced by women in leadership positions and serve as a beacon of empowerment for those striving to break through societal barriers
