HYBE Min Hee Jin Legal Battle: What Did HYBE Say in Response?
HYBE stated its intention to appeal, describing the verdict as “regrettable.” As noted by various media outlets in South Korea, a HYBE spokesperson said, “We plan to proceed with appeals and other legal actions,” reflecting the company’s long-standing stance against Min Hee Jin. Reportedly, the judgment is also expected to further affect the ongoing legal issues, which also include a ₩43B (~ $29.86M) damages suit launched by ADOR against Min and others over NewJeans’ exit and contract disputes.
The verdict marks a turning point in one of Korea’s most closely watched entertainment industry battles. Reportedly, Min’s team portrays it not only as a financial success but also as a confirmation of contractual rules in K-pop corporate governance. In fact, authorities had earlier cleared Min of accusations regarding breach of trust and embezzlement in mid-2025, citing that the evidence was not sufficient enough to initiate prosecution against the ex-ADOR CEO.
The issue has far-reaching repercussions for the K-pop industry and market, with both sides focusing on NewJeans’ commercial success. This high-stakes legal battle has put ADOR’s creative and managerial leadership, as well as internal administration, under scrutiny, straining investor trust to its extremes. The entire K-pop sector is now looking forward to seeing how this case will reinterpret the rules of subsidiary independence and the legitimacy of executive exit rights.