HYBE executives have been cleared of workplace harassment charges after the Ministry of Employment and Labor closed the prosecution case.
The complaints were filed in September by former ADOR deputy representative “L”, an associate of former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin, and accused the company of conducting illegal audits by forcibly collecting information assets, labeling them such as workplace harassment by several HYBE executives.
Korean newspaper Chosun Biz revealed screenshots suggesting that Min Hee Jin was involved in orchestrating L’s complaint to the Ministry of Employment and Labor.
Min is currently embroiled in a legal conflict over an alleged attempt to take control of ADOR and an alleged attempt to poach NewJeans, for which she was fired in November.
According to Chosun, industry sources said the Seoul Regional Labor and Employment Bureau ruled last month that “HYBE’s actions do not constitute workplace harassment,” closing the case related to L’s claims .
L had named five executives in July, accusing key players of ADOR CEO Kim Joo Young and ADOR internal director and HYBE CFO Lee Kyung Joon of workplace harassment.
According to reports, in March last year, an employee (referred to as ‘A’) filed an internal report alleging that L had forced him to participate in a drinking session based on his status as a ‘young female staff member’ , leaving the employee unaccompanied by a stranger, as well as accusations of offensive speech towards the CEO.
During the initial investigation of this case, then-CEO Min reportedly advised L to take legal action over A’s claims, in screenshots captured by Chosun.
Min allegedly sent advisory messages: “Shouldn’t you countersuing ‘A’ for false charges?” and “Teach her a lesson (lit. ‘Life is a battlefield’)!” as well as supposedly sending email instructions on how to respond to the survey.
After learning of Min’s involvement, Employee A requested a new investigation in August, claiming that his initial complaint had been compromised due to Min’s interference.
ADOR announced that it would conduct a new investigation and reportedly did so using an impartial third-party agency. However, during this new investigation, Min would again advise L how to handle the situation.
According to Telegram messages obtained by Chosun Biz, Min Hee Jin instructed L to respond to the new investigation by filing a workplace harassment complaint against the HYBE and ADOR executives who were leading the new investigation.
Chosun Biz
“Filing a workplace harassment complaint will serve as a countermeasure and indirect pressure to ensure both investigations are fair,” Min reportedly sent via text message.
“It makes sense. It seems worth filing the complaint. To make it effective, I think I should stay in contact with the company,” L responded.
In addition to the legal guidance, Min advised L to use vacation and sick leave benefits strategically, reserving days off for September in order to delay the reinvestigation process.
According to Min’s alleged instructions, L filed the workplace harassment complaint with the Ministry of Employment and Labor in September.
Outlet Chosun Biz said it attempted to contact Min and his agency, Macoll Consulting Group, multiple times for comment but received no response.
Employee A reportedly filed a complaint in August last year with the Seoul Western District Labor Bureau, accusing both Min and L of unfair labor practices and negligence.
A also filed a police report accusing Min of violating labor laws, violating privacy by leaking conversations without consent via social media, spreading false information, and filing a lawsuit demanding KRW 100 million ( approximately $68,100) in damages.
Min’s legal team denied A’s claims in a recent mediation session at the Seoul Western District Court, and the case will proceed to a formal trial.
