The ongoing legal dispute between Min Hee-jin, former CEO of ADOR and the creative force behind NewJeans, and HYBE has revealed new twists—some dramatic, some emotional, and all deeply tied to one of the biggest behind-the-scenes conflicts in K-pop today.
During the latest hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, Min Hee-jin shared a detailed account of how she first joined HYBE. According to her testimony, HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk reached out to her just two days after she left SM Entertainment in 2018, saying he already knew through “internal sources” that she had resigned. Min described his recruitment efforts as intense—so much so that she told the court it felt like he was “almost kneeling” to bring her into the company. She also said Bang personally called her parents, asking for their support and emphasizing how much he wanted her to join HYBE.
Min explained that Bang, who had previously struggled with producing the girl group GLAM, asked her for help building a new, successful girl group. Although she had also been in contact with Kakao Entertainment at the time, she ultimately chose HYBE because she felt Kakao required “too much groundwork” before a project could start.
But the partnership didn’t last.
HYBE claims Min attempted to “privatize” ADOR and damage HYBE and its labels, and in July 2023, they terminated their shareholder agreement with her. A month later, she was removed from her CEO position, and by November she had stepped down from all internal board roles. Min, in turn, argues that HYBE’s termination was invalid—and that she legally exercised her put option, which, if approved by the court, would require HYBE to pay her around 26 billion KRW (approximately $20 million USD).
During the November 27 hearing, Min couldn’t hold back tears while speaking about her work with NewJeans. She highlighted the group’s historic Tokyo Dome fan meeting, saying, “A company that fires the CEO who achieved something like that is unreasonable.” She said managing ADOR had been “hellish at times,” but she endured because of NewJeans. She stressed that she had run the label transparently, insisting she had “no reason to be removed.”
This lawsuit revolves around whether the shareholder contract was validly terminated and whether Min’s put option—which calculates compensation based on ADOR’s past earnings—can still be exercised. HYBE argues the contract was already dissolved, making the put option void. Min argues the opposite: that the contract was still active when she exercised the option.
With the court expected to wrap up arguments on December 18, a first-instance ruling is expected early next year. And as the case continues, global fans of NewJeans, HYBE, and the wider K-pop industry are watching closely—because the outcome could reshape not only ADOR’s future, but also the power dynamics behind Korea’s most influential music labels.
If you’re following K-pop beyond the stage—into the creative leadership, corporate battles, and complicated artistry that shape the industry—this is definitely a story worth keeping an eye on.
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