News Hybe/MHJ Civil War Megathread (2 Viewers)

[Selfmate]

Min Hee-jin breaks down in court, says she never expected HYBE to betray her

Min Hee-jin, former chief executive of NewJeans’ agency, Ador, gave more than five hours of emotional testimony in court on Thursday as she and HYBE press on with their bitter legal dispute over a put option valued at roughly 26 billion won ($20 million).

Min accused HYBE, the parent company of Ador, of undermining her work with NewJeans and said she never imagined the company would betray her.

The Seoul Central District Court’s civil division held the third hearing in the case concerning Min’s attempt to invalidate the termination of the shareholders’ agreement with HYBE, as well as her demand that the company honor the put option.

Min, who took the stand, broke down in tears at several points during the session.

Min described herself as “someone who values reputation and creative quality more than money,” adding that HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk had initially insisted she start Ador with zero equity in exchange for receiving trainees.

She said she ultimately agreed to stock options instead and stressed that she did not enter the shareholders’ agreement for financial gain.

Min claimed HYBE’s internal hostility toward NewJeans grew soon after the group’s rapid success. She said the public relations team failed to properly promote the group’s achievements and that the advertising team tried to divert high-profile commercial offers to other labels. She also said HYBE’s intellectual property and concert teams clashed with her and criticized Ador as “difficult to work with.”

Min recounted hearing that, before the debuts of Le Sserafim and NewJeans, some HYBE label heads discussed which team should succeed, claiming a senior executive said Le Sserafim “must” succeed for the sake of company discipline. She said another executive privately warned her to “be careful” due to jealousy and resistance.

Min said that she signed the shareholders’ agreement because she needed independence and a voice for her label, adding that former HYBE CEO Park Ji-won had also expressed dissatisfaction with the company.

“I never imagined Park would betray me,” she said. She described the agreement’s non-compete clause as “a ridiculous slave contract,” saying she trusted it would not be used against her.

Regarding allegations that she sought to negotiate a higher multiplier for the put option — raising it from 13 times to 30 times — Min said she did not make that request herself. “My lawyer handled the negotiations. I even said [that] 13 times was fine. I did it for the work, not the money,” she said.

Min also denied HYBE’s accusations that she plotted to separate Ador or conspired with external parties. She dismissed a private messaging exchange — interpreted by HYBE as an attempt to take NewJeans out of the company — as “HYBE’s wild fiction.” She said the comments were taken out of context from a casual conversation intended to vent frustration.

“It is absurd [that] this turned into a legal accusation,” she said. “Saying something in a chat is not the same as committing a crime. That is not how the world works.”

Min strongly rejected the idea that ending NewJeans’ contract would benefit her. “Why would I gain from that? If I had stayed quiet, I could have simply exercised the put option. I stayed because of responsibility, even though HYBE made life miserable,” she said.

She also criticized HYBE’s decision to remove her as Ador CEO last year. “What company fires a subsidiary CEO just ten days after the team fills the Tokyo Dome for an exceptional fan meeting? It made no sense,” she said, adding that internal audits and pressure from HYBE’s HR team had intensified before her dismissal.

Min said she eventually chose to leave despite the financial loss, noting that enduring the tiresome situation for three more months would have increased her payout. “Every day at that company felt like hell, but I stayed because of NewJeans. I believed in them and had songs ready to take them global.”

She said she had no role in NewJeans’ termination of their exclusive contract with Ador, claiming she was only informed after the parents decided. “I clearly told them I had no authority to advise contract termination,” she said.

The court is scheduled to conclude hearings on Dec. 18. NewJeans, who lost their first case seeking to void the exclusive contract, have expressed intent to return to Ador. Min has since launched a new label, OOAK (One of A Kind).

Source: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entert...rt-says-she-never-expected-hybe-to-betray-her

 

[Selfmate]

Former Ador CEO says she was ‘sacrificed for Hybe’s IPO’

With allegations of contract breach, betrayal, and corporate control at stake, ruling on her battle with Hybe expected early next year

Former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin claimed Thursday that she had been “a sacrifice for Hybe’s stock market debut,” as her legal dispute with the K-pop powerhouse over a put option worth some 26 billion won ($17.7 million) continued at the Seoul Central District Court.

The court held the third hearing in two related suits in which Hybe, parent company of Ador, is seeking confirmation that its shareholder agreement with Min has been terminated and Min is demanding payment for exercising the put option.

Min argued that Hybe had used her “from the moment she joined the company,” claiming that Hybe chairman Bang Si-hyuk recruited her to boost corporate value and facilitate a successful initial public offering.

She said her reputation in the entertainment industry was leveraged to strengthen Hybe’s listing narrative, but after the IPO, the company allegedly obstructed her plans to establish an independent label and instead pressured her to join Source Music.

Hybe countered by emphasizing that Min “was not just a creator but the CEO of a subsidiary.” The company argued that the core issue is whether Min fulfilled her duties and responsibilities as an executive, not whether she appeals to emotion.

At the center of the trial are several key issues, including whether Min violated the noncompete clause in the shareholder agreement, whether her contact with external investors constituted an attempt to undermine corporate control, the validity of her put option claim, and the alleged leakage of internal planning documents.

Last November, Min notified Hybe of her intention to exercise the put option. Under the contract, she was entitled to receive an amount equivalent to 75 percent of her stake multiplied by 13 times Ador’s average operating profit for the previous two years — a sum estimated at roughly 26 billion won.

Hybe argues that her rights no longer exist because it terminated the shareholder agreement in July.

The dispute is not merely a monetary issue but a precedent-setting case for Hybe with wide implications for its future internal governance. Given the scale of the amount, the company sees the case as symbolically significant for the entire industry.

Min said her push to apply a “30-times multiplier,” rather than the initial 13, was driven by “a profound sense of betrayal, not greed.”

The former CEO said she discovered only later that the shareholder agreement contained a noncompete clause that effectively barred her from selling shares without Hybe’s approval and prohibited her from working in the same industry for life.

“When I realized it was essentially a lifelong slavery contract, I trembled with anger at the betrayal by the management, including former Hybe CEO Park Ji-won,” Min said. “Asking for ‘30 times’ was psychological compensation for the deception and the humiliation and obstruction I endured inside Hybe. It wasn’t about making money — it was about demanding accountability for the harm they caused me.”

Responding to Hybe’s argument that proposing “30 times” itself constituted a breach of contract, Min said: “I’m fine with receiving it at 13 times. I’m exhausted, but Hybe crossed the line, and that’s why I had to fight.”

Regarding Min’s meetings with outside investors, Hybe said the interactions suggested “efforts to seek an independent structure,” not ordinary business discussions. The controversial “Project 1945” document, which referenced a potential breakaway structure, fell under her management responsibility regardless of who drafted it, the company added.

Hybe argues that the matter goes beyond creative friction and concerns actions that could fundamentally alter the company’s shareholding structure, thereby violating contractual obligations and trust.

Min concluded by criticizing what she described as Hybe’s fixation on expansion through mergers and acquisitions.

“Chairman Bang focused on external expansion through M&A and investments rather than creative depth or internal stability,” she said. “I became disillusioned with a management philosophy that treats artists and employees as expendable accessories.”

“Hybe publicly promotes a multilabel system but in reality uses centralized control that suppresses creative autonomy,” she added.

The court will close arguments on Dec. 18 and is expected to deliver a ruling early next year.

Source: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10625961

 

[Abeamus]

I've been awol all day

Sauce?

I don't know if there's a single article that encapsulates everything since she went on so long at the put options hearing that they had to make another hearing but this article goes over some of it like saying lawyers handle negotiations, that she didn't advise NewJeans on contract termination and that the parents decided that all on their own.

 

[Abeamus]

I think my favourite part of the hearing I've seen is Min Heejin saying the press releases aren't from her company as there are no staff with only her being there. Then Hybe asked who is Mr. Im and she immediately says my employee like she's lying so much she can't even keep track

 

[RandAlThor]

I think my favourite part of the hearing I've seen is Min Heejin saying the press releases aren't from her company as there are no staff with only her being there. Then Hybe asked who is Mr. Im and she immediately says my employee like she's lying so much she can't even keep track

Always one of my fav lines .. tell the truth its less to remember....

 

[Abeamus]

Sean posted a photo posing with Danielle while they went running in a group which she seemed in good spirits from the photo so I'd be more inclined to believe it is just waiting on Hanni as the statement Minji and Danielle put out after Haerin and Hyein returned did not give me the impression of someone who would be in good spirits.

 

[Abeamus]

The Mhdhh_friends account is gone which people noticing it is new at least so who knows how long it's been gone entirely but seems like a clear sign they're all returning.

 

[Selfmate]

The Mhdhh_friends account is gone which people noticing it is new at least so who knows how long it's been gone entirely but seems like a clear sign they're all returning.

the alternative is that they are taking the IG account down because if the aren't returning they can't really use it

 

[Abeamus]

the alternative is that they are taking the IG account down because if the aren't returning they can't really use it

While it's possible it's been like that for a while and most accounts noticed it today which would have been a business day in Korea so I can't see that both it and the parents account just crossed their mind and got deactivated unless Hybe specifically brought up the accounts since to me it would have made more sense deleting the account as a sign of good faith around the time they announced their intention of returning.

 

[Selfmate]

While it's possible it's been like that for a while and most accounts noticed it today which would have been a business day in Korea so I can't see that both it and the parents account just crossed their mind and got deactivated unless Hybe specifically brought up the accounts since to me it would have made more sense deleting the account as a sign of good faith around the time they announced their intention of returning.

that is also very probable

 

[Abeamus]

that is also very probable

Well another reason popped up as MHJ when she was defending "her political stance" because of the voter intimidation problem she may shown she was behind the accounts since the proof she used was food she sent to the protests which was the same food MHDHH sent people noticed so that became a theory people were speculating which even though it's pretty weak this woman cares way too much about online opinions that's for sure.

 

[Selfmate]

Min Hee-jin launches closed auditions for new idol group in Korea

Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin will hold auditions to launch a new idol group.

On the 3rd, posts including a notice poster saying that ooak Records, founded by Min Hee-jin, will hold a closed in-person audition at a well-known dance academy on the 7th were posted on social media and online communities.

According to the notice, eligibility for the audition is those born between 2006 and 2011, regardless of nationality or gender. Accordingly, it can be inferred that Min Hee-jin is considering both girl groups and boy groups.

ooak Records is an entertainment agency that Min Hee-jin founded last October. It registered as a business the following purposes: artist management agency, music production · record production · music and record distribution, performance and event planning · production, and brand management agency.

Min Hee-jin expressed support for Min-ji, Hanni and Danielle, who had 'notified' their return to ADOR after Haerin and Hye-in. Min Hee-jin said, “I can start anew anywhere,” and not long after expressing this position she is holding a closed in-person audition and moving toward her goal.

Meanwhile, among Min-ji, Hanni and Danielle, who notified their return to ADOR, Min-ji and Danielle have held individual meetings, and it is reported that they are coordinating schedules with Hanni, who was staying in Antarctica.

Source: https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-entertainment/2025/12/03/NE3MVMICI5EQZIINH44SNLELFQ/

 

[Selfmate]

Former ADOR CEO Blames HYBE for NewJeans Dispute

Min Hee-jin criticizes HYBE's handling, emphasizes group's unity and members' well-being

Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin commented on NewJeans members expressing their intent to return to their agency, stating, “HYBE should feel very sorry toward NewJeans. I am angry and saddened that the situation has been allowed to reach this point.”

The former CEO appeared on the YouTube live broadcast ‘장르만 여의도’ on the 4th and responded to a question about her feelings toward NewJeans: “You might feel sorry or regretful. What is your emotion?”

Min said, “It’s too strange to divide them into two and three,” adding, “The court said, ‘We’ll treat them well if they return,’ but I don’t understand why they are isolating three members as if they are being ostracized.”

On the 12th of last month, ADOR announced that NewJeans members Haerin and Hyein had decided to return after discussion. Approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes later, Minji, Hanni, and Danielle announced through a law firm, “ADOR has not responded, so we had no choice but to separately share our stance,” expressing their intent to return. ADOR stated at the time, “We are verifying their true intentions.”

The host said, “The thoughts of the two members (Haerin and Hyein) and the three members (Minji, Hanni, and Danielle) seem different. The two shared their return stance through ADOR, while the three did so through a law firm.”

Min refuted this, saying, “No,” and explained, “They conveyed their intentions on the same date with only a time difference. The statement mentions that the three members contacted ADOR.” She added, “Even if the two members announced their return first, I would have waited,” and emphasized, “It’s better to contact the other members and announce together to avoid confusing the fandom.” She continued, “If the three members clearly expressed their intent to return, ADOR should accept it. Why suspect them and question their true intentions?”

The host reiterated, “The two members said they would return through ADOR, while the three did so through a law firm, so ADOR is verifying their true intentions.” Min again refuted, “No,” and noted, “Most articles framed it that way, but the article I saw did not express it as such.” She clarified, “The members’ statement clearly stated, ‘We conveyed our intent to return to ADOR.’”

The host reiterated, “‘We conveyed our intent to return to ADOR, but since there was no response, we had no choice but to separately share our stance.’” Min responded, “There could be misunderstandings, which I deeply empathize with,” and questioned, “Why frame this as if there’s a rift? If adults truly care about the members, shouldn’t they avoid such actions?”

The host asked, “Do you believe HYBE bears significant responsibility for this situation?” Min answered, “From my perspective, it’s 100% HYBE’s responsibility.”

Earlier, on the 13th of last month, Min expressed support for the NewJeans members’ decision to announce their intent to return. She stated, “I believe they can start anew anywhere,” but emphasized, “Under any circumstances, NewJeans must remain intact as five members.” She added, “I hope the members become an even better NewJeans, and above all, I wish for their happiness.”

Source: https://www.chosun.com/english/kpop-culture-en/2025/12/04/ZD2WHRFWJNCJBILQNCHNYMKAOI/

 

[Selfmate]

‘NewJeans Split’ Min Hee-jin: “Hybe Cast Me as a Witch... No Plans for a Girl Group for Now” [Summary]

Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin spoke about the lawsuit with Hybe, allegations of political coercion, and the return of NewJeans, expressing her frustration by saying, “Hybe cast me as a witch.”

On the morning of the 4th at 11 a.m., Min Hee-jin appeared as a guest on a live broadcast of the YouTube channel 'Genre Only Yeouido.' She is currently in a legal battle with Hybe, ADOR’s parent company, over the termination of their shareholder agreement and the exercise of a put option.

When the host mentioned that public opinion seemed unfavorable, Min Hee-jin responded, “I haven’t read the comments myself, but others have told me about them. Just a few days ago, someone asked for my autograph on the street, but I heard that public sentiment wasn’t good. It made me wonder, ‘Why is there such a gap between online and offline?’”

She continued, “After the press conference, I stayed quiet for almost a year and a half. I think the misunderstandings grew because I didn’t say anything. There have been many negative articles, but as an ordinary person, there’s not much I can do to respond. I didn’t want to go public on purpose, but people around me suggested that it might be good to share my side of the story.”

After announcing her resignation as an internal director of ADOR in November 2024, Min Hee-jin filed a lawsuit against Hybe to claim payment for exercising her put option. She argued that, based on ADOR’s business performance in 2022 and 2023—the years used to calculate the shareholder agreement—she could claim about 26 billion KRW. However, Hybe countered that the shareholder agreement was terminated in July last year, so the put option rights had expired.

Regarding this, Min Hee-jin emphasized, “Hybe claims the shareholder agreement can be terminated because the trust relationship was broken, but that trust is not personal—it’s a business relationship. While at ADOR, I was the CEO who generated the most revenue for the company. I never caused any business losses; in fact, I was the best performer.”

She also addressed the allegations raised by Hybe during the trial that she forced political views on employees. On November 27, during the third hearing of the lawsuit over the shareholder agreement and put option, Hybe’s legal team cited KakaoTalk messages and posts from an employee community as evidence that Min Hee-jin pressured staff regarding political affiliations.

Min Hee-jin pointed out, “It’s unclear who the sender and recipient of those KakaoTalk messages are. The person referred to me as ‘Hee-jin unnie,’ but it’s not even clear if they’re an acquaintance or an employee. That conversation happened in December 2020, but if Hybe wants to raise an issue, it should be after ADOR was established in 2021.”

Regarding the post on the employee community, she added, “That post was made after the incident with Hybe occurred. There are claims that I scolded someone for three hours for voting for the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), but our office is an open space—does that even make sense? I have never called employees in to ask why they voted for the DPK.”

Min Hee-jin also commented on the return of NewJeans, the girl group she produced, to ADOR after a contract dispute. After losing the lawsuit on October 30, NewJeans decided to return to ADOR following a year-long dispute.

However, unlike Haerin and Hyein, who announced their return through ADOR, Minji, Hanni, and Danielle issued separate statements about their decision to return. In response, ADOR stated that it was unaware of Minji, Hanni, and Danielle’s return in advance, explaining, “We are trying to understand their intentions,” and added, “We are coordinating individual meetings.”

Min Hee-jin criticized the attitudes of both ADOR and Hybe, stating, “I understand that the NewJeans members conveyed their intention to return on the same day, just at different times. In court, Hybe said, ‘We’ll treat them well if they come back,’ but then they split the members into groups of two and three.”

She added, “Even if two members expressed their intention to return first, if it were me, I would have waited. Announcing it all at once would have prevented confusion among the fandom. And if three members said they would come back, they should just accept them—why question their motives? I’m extremely frustrated and saddened by how this situation has been handled.”

She also spoke about her future plans. In October, Min Hee-jin established a new entertainment agency, OOAK Records (One Of A Kind Records), and has completed its corporate registration.

Min Hee-jin stated, “Many people are interested in investing in the new agency. After news of the company’s establishment spread, I received many inquiries from both Korea and abroad. I want to create a company where idols and the agency truly need each other. I have no plans to form a girl group next. Even if I do, it would be after launching a boy group. I see areas in this market that need improvement, and I want to prepare in my own way and show something truly meaningful.”

Source: https://www.mk.co.kr/en/culture/11484278

 

[RandAlThor]

That anyone fails to under stand that the 3 were caught un aware, and were clearly not planning on returning is just crazy.

 

[Abeamus]

That anyone fails to under stand that the 3 were caught un aware, and were clearly not planning on returning is just crazy.

Hybe announced Haerin and Hyeins return for negioation power as it removed NewJeans negotiating solely as 5 since now they are forced to negotiate as individuals which is more in line with them having individual contracts. They tried forcing Hybe to need all 5 of them back at once giving them more leverage but it just wasn't reality and is very rarely how Kpop negotiations are done so while Hybe may want all 5 members back however they gently reminded Minji, Hanni and Danielle that they are only each responsible for their own contracts and not each others too.

 

[RandAlThor]

Hybe announced Haerin and Hyeins return for negioation power as it removed NewJeans negotiating solely as 5 since now they are forced to negotiate as individuals which is more in line with them having individual contracts. They tried forcing Hybe to need all 5 of them back at once giving them more leverage but it just wasn't reality and is very rarely how Kpop negotiations are done so while Hybe may want all 5 members back however they gently reminded Minji, Hanni and Danielle that they are only each responsible for their own contracts and not each others too.

Great point!

 

[Abeamus]

Blift Lab is suing Team Bunnies for defamation of Illit so we'll see who is really behind the account.

Belift Lab sues NewJeans fan group, citing defamation of Illit

Belift Lab, a K-pop subsidiary label under Hybe, has filed a lawsuit against NewJeans fan group Team Bunnies for allegedly defaming its girl group Illit. In a c

www.koreaherald.com

 

[Selfmate]

Blift Lab is suing Team Bunnies for defamation of Illit so we'll see who is really behind the account.

Belift Lab sues NewJeans fan group, citing defamation of Illit

Belift Lab, a K-pop subsidiary label under Hybe, has filed a lawsuit against NewJeans fan group Team Bunnies for allegedly defaming its girl group Illit. In a c

www.koreaherald.com

you get a lawsuit
you get a lawsuit
everyone gets a lawsuit

 

[RandAlThor]

Blift Lab is suing Team Bunnies for defamation of Illit so we'll see who is really behind the account.

Belift Lab sues NewJeans fan group, citing defamation of Illit

Belift Lab, a K-pop subsidiary label under Hybe, has filed a lawsuit against NewJeans fan group Team Bunnies for allegedly defaming its girl group Illit. In a c

www.koreaherald.com

Watch it be from some crazy country...