Min Hee-jin Resigns Amid Legal Battle with Entertainment Giant HYBE

In a significant development within the South Korean entertainment industry, Min Hee-jin has officially announced her resignation from her position as internal director at HYBE‘s ADOR music label. This marks the culmination of a protracted seven-month dispute between Min and the entertainment conglomerate, HYBE.

Min Hee-jin, who initially joined HYBE in 2019 and was later appointed as CEO of ADOR in 2021, played a pivotal role in the debut of the successful girl group NewJeans in 2022. Her departure follows a turbulent period punctuated by legal confrontations and internal discord.

The conflict began in April when HYBE launched an internal audit, accusing Min and ADOR’s management of misconduct, including an alleged attempt to seize control of the label. In response, Min countered these allegations, asserting that the dispute arose due to claims of plagiarism involving NewJeans’ concept by another HYBE subsidiary.

As the situation escalated, Min was removed from her CEO role in August, but she was retained as an internal director. In October, efforts to reinstate her as CEO were rejected by ADOR’s board, leading to Min’s eventual resignation.

In a lengthy public statement, Min expressed her intention to hold HYBE accountable for breaching the shareholders’ agreement and announced plans for legal action against the company’s alleged unlawful practices. She accused HYBE of conducting a «witch hunt» against her, framing her as power-hungry, and ignoring whistleblowing attempts concerning internal issues.

«I have fought with all my mental, economic, and physical strength to reclaim ADOR, which was damaged due to HYBE’s serious violation of the shareholders’ agreement,» Min stated. She further alleged that HYBE had abandoned ethical considerations in favor of corporate interests.

The discord with HYBE has drawn considerable attention within the industry, with NewJeans and their parents expressing support for Min. Earlier in November, NewJeans members threatened to terminate their contracts if Min was not reinstated as CEO, reflecting the growing tensions between the artists and the label.

Min’s statement concluded with a resolution to continue her work in the K-pop industry, inviting supporters to follow her future endeavors. As of the latest reports, HYBE has yet to issue a formal response to Min’s announcement.