One of South Korea's leading entertainment companies, HYBE Entertainment, accused its subsidiary ADOR's former CEO Min Hee-jin in April last year of attempting to seize management rights and filed a police complaint on grounds of occupational breach of trust. In response, Min Hee-jin countersued HYBE's PR staff for professional misconduct and alleged breach of trust, leading to a protracted legal battle between the two sides. After more than a year of investigation, Min Hee-jin's side announced on the 15th that she was found not guilty, but HYBE also immediately issued a response.
On the 15th, Min Hee-jin’s side stated that after more than a year of investigation, she was ultimately found to have committed no illegal acts by the police authorities: “Both cases involving us were ruled as ‘no suspicion’ and will not be forwarded for prosecution.” However, HYBE swiftly responded saying it would immediately file an objection to the prosecution, and has no intention to back down.
HYBE pointed out that after the police investigation concluded, new developments such as 'NewJeans' members announcing contract termination took place. Consequently, multiple new pieces of evidence have been submitted in the ongoing litigation. “The court has made serious criticisms of the former representative Min’s conduct based on this evidence, especially as the Seoul High Court found during the provisional injunction appeal review that the former representative Min was ‘intentionally undermining the integrative structure fundamental to exclusive contracts’. Therefore, in the objection proceedings, we will continue to challenge the prosecution’s non-prosecution decision.”
In addition, in July last year, Min Hee-jin and others brought forward charges against five HYBE executives, accusing them of obstructing business and violating the Information and Communications Network Act (defamation). The investigating authorities also ruled 'no suspicion' and decided not to transfer the cases for prosecution.