Min Hee-jin Faces a Chain of Lawsuits in 2025: Employee Lawsuits, Plagiarism Claims, and HYBE Allegations
In 2024, the standout keyword in the entertainment industry was undoubtedly Min Hee-jin. The former CEO of ADOR publicly criticized HYBE, the parent company, significantly influencing what many see as the “declaration of independence” for NewJeans. Over the past year, the conflicts between HYBE, ADOR, Min Hee-jin, and NewJeans have escalated into an unprecedentedly intense contractual dispute within the entertainment industry.
If 2024 was the prelude to a battle, 2025 marks the opening of the war, with lawsuits taking center stage.
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Former ADOR Employee’s Lawsuit
On January 6, a former ADOR employee, identified as A, failed to attend a mediation session in their defamation lawsuit against Min Hee-jin, which seeks 100 million won in damages. With the mediation falling apart, tensions between Min Hee-jin and A are expected to deepen.
Who is B? B is a central figure in the controversy surrounding HYBE’s allegations of Min Hee-jin’s “scheme to seize control of ADOR.” A former member of HYBE’s accounting team, B joined ADOR and worked closely with Min Hee-jin on management decisions. According to a HYBE audit, B drafted a controversial memo advising Min Hee-jin to “turn ADOR into an empty shell and push HYBE to sell it,” which Min Hee-jin allegedly received.
A’s decision to skip the mediation session reportedly stems from Min Hee-jin’s refusal to apologize. A had previously stated they would agree to a settlement if Min Hee-jin admitted wrongdoing and apologized. However, A’s legal representatives expressed doubts about reaching an agreement, citing Min Hee-jin’s uncooperative response in her filings.
With mediation failing, the case will now proceed to trial.
Legal Battle Over ILLIT Plagiarism Claims
Just five days later, on January 10, Min Hee-jin will face yet another legal battle, this time involving the plagiarism controversy surrounding ILLIT. Last year, Source Music filed a 500 million won damage suit against Min Hee-jin, while ILLIT’s agency, Belift Lab, filed a 2 billion won lawsuit, claiming Min Hee-jin plagiarized their ideas for her projects. The January 10 hearing will address the 2.5 billion won in combined claims from Source Music and Belift Lab.
In response, Min Hee-jin has taken a more aggressive stance, filing a countersuit against Belift Lab for 5 billion won in damages, twice the amount they demanded, and accusing Belift Lab executives of defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act.
HYBE’s Allegations of Attempting to Seize ADOR
Min Hee-jin will also continue to fight HYBE’s allegations of “scheming to seize control of ADOR.” In April 2024, HYBE accused Min Hee-jin of breach of duty, claiming she attempted to take over ADOR’s management rights. After an eight-hour police interrogation, Min Hee-jin dismissed the allegations as “ridiculous comedy.”
HYBE’s accusation is rooted in A’s claims about B’s memo, which reportedly detailed plans to pressure HYBE into selling ADOR’s shares. HYBE presented text messages between Min Hee-jin and B discussing these plans, which they believe constitute a breach of duty. Min Hee-jin, however, has argued that the messages were casual conversations and that the memo was merely a personal note.
The outcome of the police investigation into Min Hee-jin’s alleged breach of duty will have significant implications for the ongoing shareholder lawsuit between HYBE and Min Hee-jin. It also ties into the broader power struggle over ADOR’s shares and the considerable financial stakes involved.
This investigation will also influence public perception of NewJeans, who have broken away from ADOR. Min Hee-jin and NewJeans are seen as a single entity, sharing a collective fate. Is NewJeans’ current trajectory a bold stand against corporate power, or is it a reckless disregard for legal principles?
The future of NewJeans hinges largely on Min Hee-jin’s success or failure in these legal battles.