On February 25, Min Hee Jin, CEO of OOAK Records and former head of ADOR, held his fourth press conference at a location in Jongno, Seoul, addressing the outcome of his first-instance lawsuit against HYBE and outlining his future plans. Since April 2024, when he first publicly denied allegations that he attempted to take management control of ADOR, his press conferences have consistently attracted nationwide attention.
Of the four conferences, Min personally attended three. At the third press event held on January 28, only his legal representative, lawyer Kim Sun Woong of Jiam Law Firm, appeared on his behalf.
At the latest conference, Min appeared in a black blazer layered over a white T-shirt featuring the luxury brand C’s logo. The mix-and-match style formal outerwear combined with a casual branded T-shirt immediately caught the audience’s attention.
The group has become even more controversial due to its perceived connection with BTS member V. During the recent first instance trial, messenger conversations exchanged between Min Hee Jin and V were presented as evidence in court, attracting widespread media coverage.
According to reports, V sent Min a message along the lines of: “There’s always talk about plagiarism and it never stops. I looked at it too and thought, ‘It looks similar.'” After the content became public, V addressed the issue via his personal social media account, stating: “This was a private, everyday conversation, shared because we were acquaintances. I have no intention of taking a stand. However, I am very surprised that the conversation was introduced into evidence without my consent.”
Coincidentally, the C brand t-shirt that Min wore to the press conference is from the same brand for which V has been a global ambassador for several years. While the design was not identical to the pieces V publicly wore, the aftermath of their private messages being disclosed in court fueled online speculation. Comments like “Was this a calculated move?” AND “It’s a nice coincidence” have circulated in online communities.
Meanwhile, in the same press conference, Min Hee Jin said that although she won the first trial regarding the termination of the shareholders’ agreement and the put option case (request to sell shares) against HYBE, she is willing to waive the put option payment of ₩25.6 billion. In exchange, he urged HYBE to drop all ongoing legal actions. He emphasized that the main reason for making this decision was the well-being of NewJeans.
HYBE responded briefly at the fourth press conference, saying yes “no official position” at this moment.
Sources: Naver
