Fans are intrigued by an upcoming K-Drama titled Namib due to its clear parallels with Min Hee Jin's recent separation from HYBE and ADOR, leading to questions over whether the drama's story is based on a true story.
Starring Go Hyun Jung as Kang Soo Hyun, a star music producer specializing in what best to pay off as a trend-setting, revolutionary way of making idols, Namib is set to premiere next on December 23.
But her success takes a dramatic turn when, out of nowhere, Pandora Entertainment fires her, leaving her to pick herself up from the bottom and start over.
On top of her professional struggles, Kang has to care for her husband, Shim Joon Seok (Yoon Sang Hyun), and her son, who lost his hearing in an accident. In her effort to get back on top of the industry, she helps guide Yoo Jin Woo (Ryeo Un), a wannabe star dealing with defeat and debts.
Viewers have compared Kang's story with Min Hee Jin's real-life story. Min, a former CBO at HYBE, played a pivotal role in its rebranding and also helmed ADOR as it launched the bona fide hit-making group NewJeans.
Internal disputes, however, saw her removed in mid-2024, a move she has since opposed in public, claiming breach of contracts.
Min's dispute with HYBE's leadership has been an ongoing topic in the K-Pop community, with the talks about power dynamics in the industry.
Despite the fact that Namib creates many fictional elements, such as the family conflict and mentor-mentee storylines, many viewers believe this is merely a dramatization of the cut-throat drama surrounding Min Hee Jin watching her exit over the years.
With "Namib" on the horizon, fans are hoping to learn how the series will balance themes that align so clearly with the K-Pop universe.
Here are comments from korean netizens in the online community forum theqoo:
