Min Hee-jin’s Side Blocks Source Music Presentation, Demands Closed Hearing Over Disputed KakaoTalk Evidence
The legal clash between former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin and HYBE’s subsidiary Source Music intensified as Min’s legal team challenged the admissibility of controversial KakaoTalk messages during a court hearing on May 30.
The 12th Civil Division of the Seoul Western District Court held the second hearing in Source Music’s ₩500 million KRW (~$363,000 USD) damages lawsuit against Min. The proceeding saw only the legal representatives from both parties in attendance.
Source Music had planned a 20-minute presentation, but moments before it began, Min Hee-jin’s team objected, stating that the KakaoTalk messages included in the materials had been illegally obtained and should not be admitted as evidence. They also formally requested that the trial be conducted behind closed doors.
The court acknowledged the objection, stating:
“The defendant has expressed concern that some of the evidence was obtained through actions potentially subject to criminal penalties, and therefore requested a closed hearing.”
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While Source Music contested the objection, the judge made a temporary ruling:
“We will proceed with a public hearing, but will restrict any discussion or display of the specific KakaoTalk excerpts the defendant contests until further review.”
Min’s team explained their core concern, “What worries us most is that the presentation may contain message excerpts related to the disputed incident.”
In response, the judge gave Source Music the option to revise and reschedule the presentation. Source Music pushed back, “This same evidence was used in another case without issue. The objection comes too late, and delaying now is unfair.”
The central legal debate hinges on how the KakaoTalk messages were acquired. While Min Hee-jin’s side argues they may have been extracted illegally, Source Music maintains, “These messages were accessed via company devices with prior consent. This is not a case of private phone hacking.”
The court has scheduled a separate hearing on June 27 to specifically determine whether the KakaoTalk evidence is legally admissible, a decision that could significantly impact the broader lawsuit.