The battle between HYBE and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin has officially begun in court—and the accusations are as shocking as they are personal.
⚖️ Dispute Over Contract Termination & Put Option
On June 12, the Seoul Central District Court held the first hearing for two lawsuits:
- Min Hee-jin's claim for HYBE to buy back her ADOR shares via a put option
- HYBE's countersuit to terminate their shareholder agreement with Min
At the heart of the dispute is the timing and validity of the contract termination.
💸 The ₩26 Billion Question
In November 2023, Min notified HYBE of her intent to exercise her put option—allowing her to sell 75% of her ADOR shares at a price based on 13x the company's average operating profit (2022–2023). The estimated value: approximately ₩26 billion.
HYBE claims the shareholder agreement was terminated earlier, in July 2024, due to breach of contract—rendering the put option invalid.
🔍 Allegations of "Stealing NewJeans"
HYBE accused Min of secretly plotting to take NewJeans out of the label despite receiving a ₩2.7 billion annual salary in 2024. They allege she:
- Coached staff to impersonate NewJeans' parents via email
- Sent emails under names like "Hyein's father" and "Danielle's mother" to protest against HYBE
- Made detailed instructions on tone and sender identity
HYBE argues this constitutes betrayal and is grounds for contract termination.
🛡️ Min Hee-jin's Counterclaim: "No Tampering"
Min's team insists she left only after exercising her put option in November and that HYBE's termination notice came afterward. "Tampering cannot be established under this timeline," her legal team argued.
💬 KakaoTalks, PowerPoints, and Privacy Battles
HYBE came prepared with a PowerPoint presentation containing KakaoTalk messages between Min and a former VP, which they claim is direct evidence of her plans to "take NewJeans."
Min's side objected to the public use of the materials, citing privacy concerns and questioning the legality of how the evidence was gathered.
HYBE fired back:
- "We obtained consent through proper audit protocols."
- "Min's side was the first to leak trial materials to the media."
- "We protected NewJeans' identities, while the defendant did not blur employee names."
📅 Next Hearing: September 11, 3 PM
HYBE will present their full PPT argument at the next session. Witness testimonies have also been requested.
This high-stakes legal battle is far from over—and the K-pop industry is watching closely.
[Photo Credit: Dispatch DB, HYBE, Min Hee-jin Instagram Capture]
