Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin has reportedly suffered a significant setback in her ongoing legal battle with HYBE after prosecutors dismissed all criminal complaints filed against HYBE and BELIFT LAB executives.
According to reports, the Seoul Western District Prosecutor’s Office decided not to charge the executives named in Min’s complaints, effectively confirming earlier police findings that no criminal wrongdoing had occurred.
One of the most closely monitored aspects of the controversy involved allegations relating to so-called “shaman management.” Min Hee-jin had claimed that HYBE’s statements regarding his alleged consultations with a shaman were false and defamatory. However, prosecutors reportedly concluded that HYBE’s statements could not be considered false. During the investigation, authorities confirmed the existence of KakaoTalk conversations in which Min Hee-jin discussed management issues related to ADOR with a shaman.
While prosecutors acknowledged that the phrase “shaman management” may have been exaggerated, they ruled that it did not constitute dissemination of false information necessary for a criminal defamation charge.
Prosecutors also rejected allegations that HYBE illegally accessed emails and messaging accounts belonging to Min Hee-jin and her associates. According to the reported findings, investigators considered HYBE’s actions to be part of a legitimate internal audit process. The decision was reportedly based on security agreements and privacy consent documents signed during employment. Investigators also found that former ADOR deputy CEO Lee Sang-woo voluntarily provided his password, further weakening the allegations of unauthorized access. As a result, claims that HYBE was engaged in illegal surveillance activities were not accepted.
Another key dispute centered on Min Hee-jin’s accusation that ILLIT copied NewJeans. Prosecutors reportedly referred to an earlier court ruling that found some similarities between the groups but failed to conclude that one was a copy of the other. Based on this reasoning, BELIFT LAB’s public statement that ILLIT had not copied NewJeans was considered an expression of opinion rather than a defamatory statement. As a result, prosecutors found no basis for criminal charges against BELIFT LAB executives.
The latest decision follows an earlier police investigation which had already concluded there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges against HYBE and BELIFT LAB executives.
Min Hee-jin disputed that finding and requested a review of the case, but prosecutors ultimately reached the same conclusion after conducting additional investigations. As a result, the criminal proceedings initiated by Min Hee-jin actually ended with non-indictment decisions across the board.
Despite the outcome of the criminal complaints, the larger legal battle between Min Hee-jin and HYBE remains unresolved. A separate civil case involving approximately ₩25.5 billion (about $18 million) in stock options is still ongoing. Unlike criminal cases, the central issue in civil litigation is whether either party has breached the terms of their shareholder agreement.
Earlier this year, a court ruled in Min Hee-jin’s favor in the first trial of the put option lawsuit, ruling that HYBE had not established sufficient grounds to terminate the deal based on its conduct.
The prosecution’s decision is expected to become a major point of contention in the ongoing appeal of the put option case.
HYBE will likely argue that the findings support its position that Min Hee-jin engaged in conduct that undermined trust between the parties. Meanwhile, Min’s side is expected to argue that the contractual obligations relating to the put option agreement remain valid regardless of the outcome of the criminal investigation.
For now, while HYBE appears to have secured a decisive victory in the criminal case, the final chapter in the dispute will likely depend on the outcome of ongoing civil litigation involving hundreds of millions of dollars in shareholder rights and compensation.
Sources: Nate News
