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Ooak Records
Label

Ooak Records

Ooak Records is Min Hee-jin's post-ADOR independent label, built as a clean restart after one of K-pop's most public corporate ruptures. The company formally opened its Instagram, X, and website in February 2026, then immediately signaled that it was aiming for scale, not soft-launch ambiguity, by teasing a new global boy-group project out of the gate.

That positioning matters because Min's reputation was first sharpened inside SM Entertainment, then expanded into mainstream market power through HYBE and NewJeans. Ooak is now the test case for whether an auteur-style creative leader can still command top-tier attention without the shelter of a major-label umbrella. In other words, this is not being watched like a typical startup. It is being watched like the beginning of a new power center.

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OOAK Records WANTED campaign teaser, February 2026 / OOAK Records

Fans Also Ask

Who founded Ooak Records?
Ooak Records was founded by Min Hee-jin, former CEO of ADOR and the creative director behind NewJeans. She established the label in October 2025 after departing HYBE and ADOR following a widely publicized dispute. The label officially launched its public channels in February 2026.
What does OOAK stand for?
OOAK stands for Only One Always Known, a phrase embedded in the label's visual identity and creative philosophy. It reflects Min Hee-jin's focus on singular, distinctive artists rather than trend-driven idol concepts.
Is Ooak Records preparing a boy group?
Yes. Ooak Records confirmed in late 2025 that its first act will be a boy group. A global audition campaign launched in February 2026, seeking male applicants born between 2008 and 2013 regardless of nationality or background. No specific debut date has been set as of early 2026.
What is the connection between Ooak Records and NewJeans?
Min Hee-jin, who founded Ooak Records, was the creative director who conceived and launched NewJeans at ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE. After a public dispute with HYBE in 2024, she departed the company and spent over a year building Ooak Records. Ooak Records operates independently from HYBE and NewJeans.
What artists are signed to Ooak Records?
As of early 2026, Ooak Records has not announced any signed artists. The label is currently in a global recruitment phase for its first group, a boy group targeting the international market. Auditions opened in February 2026 for male applicants born between 2008 and 2013.

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