ADOR’s former CEO Min Hee-jin allegedly instructed a subordinate to find fault with several popular HYBE artists, according to text messages disclosed in a court ruling.
Based on the first instance ruling of October 30, concerning the lawsuit brought by ADOR to verify the validity of the exclusivity contracts with the five members of New Jeansevidence was presented showing that Min directed an employee to identify any reasons whether it be obstruction of business, breaches of the Fair Trade Act or commercial law, or even breach of duty to file potential legal claims.
min hee jin manipulated evidence allegations
" data-medium-file="https://cdn.kbizoom.com/media/2025/09/15034408/min-hee-jin-manipulated-evidence-allegations-thumbnail-20250915t032518000z-390x273.webp" data-large-file="https://cdn.kbizoom.com/media/2025/09/15034408/min-hee-jin-manipulated-evidence-allegations-thumbnail-20250915t032518000z-1145x801.webp" alt="min hee jin manipulated evidence allegations" class="wp-image-872333" srcset="https://cdn.kbizoom.com/media/2025/09/15034408/min-hee-jin-manipulated-evidence-allegations-thumbnail-20250915t032518000z.webp 1600w, https://cdn.kbizoom.com/media/2025/09/15034408/min-hee-jin-manipulated-evidence-allegations-thumbnail-20250915t032518000z-390x273.webp 390w, https://cdn.kbizoom.com/media/2025/09/15034408/min-hee-jin-manipulated-evidence-allegations-thumbnail-20250915t032518000z-1145x801.webp 1145w, https://cdn.kbizoom.com/media/2025/09/15034408/min-hee-jin-manipulated-evidence-allegations-thumbnail-20250915t032518000z-768x537.webp 768w, https://cdn.kbizoom.com/media/2025/09/15034408/min-hee-jin-manipulated-evidence-allegations-thumbnail-20250915t032518000z-1536x1074.webp 1536w, https://cdn.kbizoom.com/media/2025/09/15034408/min-hee-jin-manipulated-evidence-allegations-thumbnail-20250915t032518000z-1200x839.webp 1200w, https://cdn.kbizoom.com/media/2025/09/15034408/min-hee-jin-manipulated-evidence-allegations-thumbnail-20250915t032518000z-1024x716.webp 1024w, https://cdn.kbizoom.com/media/2025/09/15034408/min-hee-jin-manipulated-evidence-allegations-thumbnail-20250915t032518000z-780x546.webp 780w, https://cdn.kbizoom.com/media/2025/09/15034408/min-hee-jin-manipulated-evidence-allegations-thumbnail-20250915t032518000z-400x280.webp 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"/>In the captured messages, Min reportedly wrote: “Let’s see if we can report them for obstruction of business, find something about fair trade law, commercial law, breach of duty, anything. Let’s look for more evidence wherever we can find it. That’s your only job.” He emphasized using Slack, a corporate messaging platform used internally by HYBE, to search for information.
The court document also revealed that Min specifically named several HYBE artists and repeatedly urged his staff to identify problematic issues. A message presumably read, “You did well, but try to find something stronger. The more, the better.”
He further stated, “You found so much on Slack, there must be more about it [group names redacted]. We cannot delete previous Slack logs.”
The ruling interpreted these messages as part of a premeditated strategy by Min to generate negative public sentiment against both ADOR’s parent company HYBE and its artists. The court observed, “The defendants” (New Jeans members) the allegations of violations of its obligations by ADOR appear to arise from Min Hee-jin’s previous efforts to review internal documents between HYBE, ADOR and the New Jeans members, with the intent of encouraging public reaction and preparing for litigation.”
This court ruling, which led to ADOR’s legal victory, is also accessible to the public via South Korea’s largest legal platform, LBOX.
Sources: Daum
