Table of contents
Mediation Date
According to a report from media outlet TenAsia report on December 26th, the mediation date for the 100 million won (about 68,000 USD) damages lawsuit filed by employee B against Min Hee-jin for defamation based on false facts has been set for January 6th of next year.
It is said that B will attend the mediation date, and it has been confirmed that she is willing to agree to the mediation if Min Hee-jin admits her wrongdoing and apologizes.
Accordingly, attention is focused on whether Min Hee-jin will attend and apologize, but Min Hee-jin’s side has not spoken up regarding this matter.
Regarding the case, the legal representative of B said, “Considering the nature of the case and the attitude of the other party, it seems difficult to reach a settlement,” and predicted that it would likely proceed as a judgment procedure through a trial.
“Our side does not want to receive compensation in money either, but rather, we filed the lawsuit in the hope that former CEO Min would admit her wrongdoing and apologize,” the attorney also said, adding, “It would be difficult to attempt to reach an agreement through an adjustment of the compensative amount.”
Court Decision to Refer to Mediation
According to media outlet Star News, the 51st Division of the Seoul Western District Court made a decision on November 28 to refer the lawsuit between Min Hee Jin and a former ADOR employee to mediation.
This means that the court suggest the two parties to resolve the lawsuit through mutual understanding and reach an agreement through a mediation date.
Lawsuit Information
This lawsuit for damages, worth 100 million won (approx 69,000 USD) was filed by former ADOR employee A against former CEO Min Hee Jin back in August this year.
Previously, A caused a stir by exposing a sexual harassment case related to former CEO Min Hee Jin and the Vice President of ADOR. At the time, A claimed that she had been sexually harassed by the Vice President of ADOR while she was working at the company, and that Min Hee Jin tried to cover up the incident.
Two Parties’ Reactions
Meanwhile, Min Hee Jin previously delivered a lecture titled “The Producer Who Breaks the K-Pop Formula, Min Hee Jin’s Freestyle” at the ‘2024 Hyundai Card Da Vinci Motel’ in Itaewon, Seoul.
During the lecture, Min stated, “I have never said that I would leave the company. Our members, who share the same sentiments as I do, must feel wronged. This is an unprecedented incident. I will definitely produce a documentary to reveal the entire process. If management and producing are separated, there’s no meaning in doing this work. I will win because I have done nothing wrong.”
Min Hee Jin continued, “So far, the legal fees have reached 2.3 billion won. I’m not as wealthy as I thought. I will have to sell my house to cover the legal fees. I even wonder if I owned a house. Without money, you can’t pursue a lawsuit,” adding, “I was really grateful to my husband for his lack of knowledge, and I’m thankful that my parents are living well.”
In response to this, former ADOR employee A raised allegations of Min Hee Jin’s cover-up of sexual harassment on social media, stating, “There hasn’t even been a single apology. Min Hee Jin intervened in the investigation to cover up reports of sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace, disclosed my KakaoTalk messages without consent, spread false information, and hurled profanities behind the scenes.”
A further stated, “The response to my request for a public apology was the disclosure of my salary, an 18-page slander document, and a criminal defamation lawsuit filed against me by the vice president last week. It’s shocking that so many people believe and support someone who claims to have remained neutral, says I was fired because I couldn’t do my job, and continues to ignore the counterarguments.”
A emphasized, “If I quietly ignore this, will it become a non-issue? I need to win as well. Each additional lawsuit incurs hundreds of thousands to millions of won, and I must seek permission to give statements on weekdays when I have no choice. When I go to give statements, I have to explain my painful experiences, which I don’t want to revisit, for three to five hours, while directly addressing the perpetrator’s personal attacks and false claims.”
A added, “Every time I give a statement, my heart races, and I experience severe stress, requiring me to take sedatives, affecting my daily life before and after the statements. HYBE acknowledged that there were issues in the process and apologized, and they selected an external agency to conduct a re-investigation, which is currently underway. It’s funny that they’re acting now after being bystanders. However, I prefer that to being ignored, slandered, and sued.”
A also stated, “I am following all the necessary procedures to seek redress for my injustices and suffering, which is difficult but necessary, and I am thankful for that. The most painful aspect is the perpetrator’s shamelessness in consistently ignoring my plight and the overwhelming support and defense for the perpetrator online, as well as secondary victimization through attacks based on the perpetrator’s logic. I appreciate those who offer warm words and don’t forget to support me.”