On February 25, Min Hee Jin, CEO of OOAK Records, held a press conference in Seoul where he made a bold proposal to HYBE. Although she won the first trial in her case for payment of the stock sale and received approximately ₩25.6 billion, she offered to forfeit the amount on the condition that HYBE stop all ongoing civil and criminal legal disputes.
The press conference, originally scheduled for 1.45pm, started six minutes late after Min reportedly went to the wrong building next door. Unlike his marathon two-hour press conference two years ago, this time he spoke for only seven minutes before concluding. As she quickly exited the venue, a man was seen standing by her side, attracting immediate curiosity.
That man was BLACK.Q, a well-known choreographer behind many of NewJeans’ hit songs, including “Attention,” “exciting boy”, “Idem,” “OH MY GOD,” AND “Super shy.” He also appeared on Mnet’s “Street man’s fighter” in 2022. Previously, BLACK.Q had listed OOAK Records on its social media profile, noting its association with Min Hee Jin. His presence at the press conference further confirmed their continued collaboration.
During her speech, Min Hee Jin said: “In exchange for waiving the ₩25.6 billion, I request that HYBE discontinue all ongoing civil and criminal lawsuits and litigation. This proposal includes the resolution of all claims and allegations against me personally, NewJeans members, external partners and ADOR employees.”
He stressed that his most pressing reason is the well-being of NewJeans. “It pains me that some are on stage while others have to stand in court. No one can view this situation with joy. With hearts torn like this, we cannot create a good culture,” he said.
Previously, the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Settlements Division 31 ruled in favor of Min Hee Jin in her stock sale payment lawsuit against HYBE. The court ordered HYBE to pay approximately ₩25.5 billion under the put option agreement.
As Min pushes for what she describes as a “cease-fire,” BLACK.Q’s appearance alongside her signals that key creative figures remain aligned with her—adding another layer of interest to an already high-stakes controversy.
Sources: Daum
