A major wave of interest is building around producer Min Hee-jin, as her newly established entertainment company launches its first round of auditions — and the response has already exceeded expectations.
Min, formerly the head of ADOR, officially founded her new label Ooak Records in October, completing corporate registration shortly after. Since then, industry watchers have speculated about her next creative move, especially after she hinted that her next focus would be forming a boy group.
Recently, a well-known dance academy quietly opened applications for an in-person audition conducted in partnership with Ooak Records. Although the application window was originally set to remain open until the evening of December 4, the academy announced that submissions had been closed early due to an unexpectedly high number of applicants.
According to the academy, the turnout far surpassed their capacity. They explained that the overwhelming volume of applications made it impossible to process additional entries while maintaining smooth operations. Those who successfully applied will receive individual notifications with audition schedules and detailed instructions.
The surge in interest coincides with Min Hee-jin’s appearance on the YouTube livestream “Genre Only Yeouido” on December 4. During the broadcast, she spoke about her ongoing legal dispute with HYBE while also addressing the rumors surrounding Ooak Records’ audition.
Min clarified that the audition wasn’t a major public event but rather an opportunity provided through the academy’s ongoing audition program, saying her company was simply included as one of the participating agencies.
As CEO of OaK Records, she also shared her vision for a new approach to artist management, expressing her desire to create modernized, shorter, and fairer contracts that address gaps she sees in current industry standards. She emphasized her drive to innovate and challenge outdated systems.
Perhaps the most attention-grabbing moment came when Min discussed her upcoming artist projects. She stated clearly that she has no immediate plans to create another girl group, adding that although she might revisit the idea in the distant future, her next major project will focus on producing a boy group.
“If the boy group comes first, the girl group will naturally follow later,” she said, hinting that preparations for the new team may already be underway.
With massive interest already pouring into auditions and Min Hee-jin openly discussing her bold new direction, the industry is watching closely to see how her next chapter unfolds.
