Min Hee Jin speaks out after court victory in HYBE dispute

So What Actually Happened? In April 2024, HYBE launched an audit accusing Min Hee-jin of attempting to seize management rights of ADOR [1]. While HYBE replaced her associates on the board with their own nominees, a court injunction initially blocked them from dismissing Min [3]. At a subsequent press conference, Min proposed a "reconciliation," stating her priority was NewJeans rather than financial gain [3].

In November 2024, Min exercised a "put option" for a 13.5% stake in ADOR, demanding HYBE purchase her shares [1]. HYBE contested this in court, alleging contract breaches involving investor meetings and the disparagement of other groups.

On February 12, 2026, the Seoul Central District Court cleared Min of these charges. The judge ruled that investor contact did not constitute a material breach, as any independence plan required HYBE’s consent [1]. The court also dismissed claims regarding Min's comments on the group ILLIT, categorizing them as value judgments rather than false rumors [1]. HYBE was ordered to cover all litigation costs [1].

The Numbers

Item	Amount
Total Payment Ordered to HYBE	25.6 billion won ($19.7M USD) [1]
Amount for Min Hee-jin (Stock Proceeds)	22.5 billion won (~$17.3M USD) [1]
Total for two former ADOR directors	3.1 billion won (~$2.4M USD) [1]
Min's ADOR stake involved in Put Option	13.5% (75% of her 18% stake) [1]

Who's Involved

• Min Hee-jin: Former ADOR CEO and founder of OK Records [1].
• HYBE: The K-pop corporation that initiated the audit and litigation [1].
• OK Records: Min’s new agency focused on management stability and talent development [1][2].

Perspectives

• Min Hee-jin posted a celebratory video on Instagram, stating: "It's all thanks to everyone's support" [2].
• OK Records stated: "CEO Min Hee-jin hoped this litigation would serve as an opportunity to correct irrational practices within the K-pop industry" [1].
• HYBE expressed intent to appeal: "It is regrettable that our claims were not sufficiently accepted. We plan to proceed with future legal procedures after reviewing the judgment" [1].

What's Next

• An Appeal: HYBE plans to move forward with legal proceedings following a review of the written judgment [1].