Min Hee-jin’s skyscraper in Yongsan-gu in Seoul, once purchased for ₩1.645 billion, is estimated to be worth up to ₩5 billion and has become a focal point in the ongoing legal dispute with her former employer, ADOR.
Recently, ADOR filed a legal request to freeze one of Min’s assets as part of a ₩500 million financial claim, which the Seoul Western District Court approved. The property in question, located in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, was purchased by Min in September 2019. In just six years, its value has almost doubled to around ₩3.2 billion, with future projections of up to ₩5 billion after redevelopment.
Real estate experts attribute the apartment’s rising value to its prime location and redevelopment potential. The complex, which is nearly 50 years old, will be rebuilt into 30-storey towers and its location along the Han River, offering permanent river views, increases its desirability and investment attractiveness. The specific unit owned by Min is estimated to be approximately 34 pyeong (approximately 112 sq m), with recent market prices ranging from ₩2.9 billion to ₩3.2 billion depending on the floor level.
A nearby real estate agent noted that the redevelopment plans have already passed the management provisions approval stage, awaiting final approval from the Yongsan District Office. They added that, following the trend of premium complexes such as Raemian Caelitus nearby, a valuation of ₩5 billion after reconstruction seems highly likely.
ADOR’s claim stems from an incident during Min’s tenure as CEO, which involved a staff member handling styling at NewJeans. This individual allegedly accepted external styling payments directly from advertisers, leading the National Tax Service to classify ₩700 million in revenue as taxable corporate income for ADOR, resulting in penalties. ADOR holds Min partially responsible and is seeking compensation, resulting in an asset freeze.
Min, who also owns a multi-family house in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, previously revealed that his legal fees amounted to ₩2.3 billion and that he was considering selling the property to cover the costs. His mansion in Yeonnam had already been subject to a provisional seizure of ₩100 million at the end of 2024, following a lawsuit filed by a former ADOR employee for defamation and invasion of privacy.
The newly disclosed Yongsan ownership helps clarify previously raised questions about its financial means. At a public event in 2024, Min herself admitted: “The legal fees have reached ₩2.3 billion… I may have to sell my house.”
In response to the asset freeze, Min’s side said it had not yet received formal documentation from the court. They plan to review the details of the case and may file an objection or take legal action, pointing out that the matter cited by ADOR has already been closed by the police.
Legal professionals clarify that the asset freeze becomes effective upon registration of the property and thereafter the debtor is informed. Therefore, even without receiving a formal notification, the freeze is legally valid, suggesting that Min’s legal team may be misunderstanding the procedural rules if they challenge the legitimacy of the freeze on these grounds.
Sources: Daum
