Legal Battle Overview
Lawyers Min Hee-Jin stated that Hybe bears the “full burden of proof” in demonstrating the legitimate termination of their joint-stock agreement, valued at approximately 70.5 million dollars in the USA.
This statement represents the latest development in a contentious legal battle intensifying between the current Ador General Director and K-Pop giant Hybe.
The law firm, Sejong LLC, made a statement following the second oral argument at the Seoul Central District Court, challenging Hybe’s approach in the case, as reported by several news outlets from South Korea on Friday (April 18).
“Hybe must prove that the shareholders’ agreement was terminated through Hybe’s notification of dismissal,” the statement noted in Korean, as quoted by No news.
Conflict and Resignation
Min was dismissed as the general director of Ador in August 2024 after a conflict with Hybe’s management regarding the K-Pop group Newjeans, of which she was a key figure.
Subsequently, Min resigned as an internal director at ADOR in November, issuing a public letter alleging that Hybe’s actions against her were retaliatory due to her attempts to whistleblow on misconduct within the K-Pop giant.
“I resign from the post of internal director in Ador. Additionally, I terminate the shareholders’ agreement with HYBE and intend to hold Hybe legally accountable for breaches of this Agreement,” Min wrote in a letter circulated in the media at that time. Before her departure from the label, Min held 18% of shares in Ador.
The social agreement, according to No news, includes guarantees for Min’s position as general director and manager for five years, along with a PUT option or the right to buy shares, valued at 100 billion South Korean won (70.5 million US dollars).
Reports indicate that Sejong stated that Min’s team has already submitted two written rebuttals contesting what they regard as the “unjust reasons for the termination claimed by Hybe,” asserting that the agency “could not disprove the illegitimacy of the termination specified by Min Hee-Jin.”
Next Steps in Court
The law firm emphasized that on April 11, 14, and 15, Haybe submitted three additional written rebuttals, all occurring the week after the court date on April 17, and indicated they would elaborate on these points, according to No news.
The 31st civil division of the Seoul Central Court, presided over by Judge Nama, reportedly consolidated the lawsuit to terminate the shareholders’ agreement with a claim for payment of the option. The next oral hearing is scheduled for June 12, as reported.
Hybe has yet to respond to Sejong’s latest statement.
The dispute intensifies as Ador also confronts legal issues with Newjeans. Last week, the Seoul court denied Newjeans’ appeal to annul the trial, which prevents the K-Pop group from engaging in activities independently of Ador.
The court upheld its decision on March 21 in favor of Ador, deeming it “valid,” maintaining the order that prohibits members Minji, Hannie, Daniel, Harin, and Hayin from pursuing solo efforts or group engagements without Ador’s consent.
Earlier this month, during proceedings, the legal team representing Newjeans argued that Min’s removal transformed the current “Ador” into a distinct entity from the one they initially co-operated with.
“We are not merely discussing Min Hee-Jin. With her ousting and new leadership under Hybe, the values have shifted entirely, leading to a different corporation,” the Newjeans Legal Team was quoted by Koreibu.
During the same hearing, Ador’s legal team challenged Newjeans’ arguments as contradictory, especially concerning Min Hee-Jin’s creative influence.
“While it is true that Min Hee-Jin contributed to the creation of NJZ, to claim they cannot exist without her is unfounded,” stated Ador.
The legal representative for Ador added, “Ador operates as a subsidiary of Hybe, the leading entertainment label in Korea, making it implausible to assert that they cannot find another producer. The fact that they were preparing for a performance in Hong Kong without Min Hee-Jin contradicts their statements claiming they could not achieve anything without her.”
