K-pop’s leading company has declared war on itself. This never-seen interview profiles the creative legend at the center of it

Min Hee-jin created the K-pop sensation NewJeans inside Hybe. But now Hybe wants her out. In this extended Q&A, Min shared how she built the band and what she was planning next—before the conflict erupted.

In the K-pop capital of Seoul, a high-stakes battle is unfolding. Min Hee-jin, a household name in the world of Korean music, is a celebrated creative director behind some of the biggest groups from the past two decades. Her latest, and arguably greatest, creation is a girl group called NewJeans...