SEOUL – Ms Min Hee-jin, the former South Korean producer behind K-pop girl group NewJeans, has been cleared of charges of breach of trust filed by entertainment company Hybe.
The 45-year-old is the former chief executive of Ador, the music label of NewJeans and a subsidiary of Hybe.
Ms Min’s legal team said on July 15 that the South Korean police found no evidence of illegal conduct on her part after an investigation of more than a year. As a result, the criminal complaint filed by Hybe was dismissed without sending the case to the prosecution.
Hybe filed a complaint on April 25, 2024, accusing Ms Min and Ador executives of attempting to seize control of the company. The complaint was based on Kakao Talk messages which purportedly suggest a plan to take over management rights.
Ms Min’s side countered that such a takeover was structurally impossible, as Hybe holds an 80 per cent stake in Ador. They also argued that there was no attempt to harm the company’s value or commit any act constituting a breach of trust.
In August 2024, Ador’s board appointed its internal director Kim Ju-young as the new chief executive. Ms Min stepped down from the chief executive post and officially resigned as an internal director on Nov 20, 2024.
NewJeans – which comprise Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein – announced eight days later on Nov 28 that they would unilaterally terminate their contracts with Ador.
Hybe said on July 15 that it would file an appeal with the prosecution against the police decision.
“After the police investigation, new developments occurred, including NewJeans members declaring their intent to terminate their contracts,” Hybe said.
“In related court proceedings, multiple new pieces of evidence were submitted and, based on these, the court regarded Min’s actions as very serious.”
The company also said that the police had previously dismissed complaints filed by Ms Min in which she accused five Hybe executives of obstruction of business and defamation.
Although she has been cleared of the breach of trust charge, she still faces civil litigation by Hybe subsidiaries Source Music and Belift Lab.
Seoul Western District Court is scheduled to hold a third hearing on July 18 for two lawsuits filed by the labels seeking compensation for damages.
Source Music, home to K-pop girl group Le Sserafim, filed a 500 million won (S$463,000) suit against Ms Min. She had claimed at a press conference in April 2024 that “Hybe prevented NewJeans from being promoted until after Le Sserafim’s debut”, implying the girl group had benefited from favouritism.
Belift Lab, which manages K-pop girl group Illit, also filed a lawsuit for two billion won. It alleged that Ms Min’s public statement accusing Illit of “copying NewJeans” caused them severe reputational damage.
Ms Min is also entangled in a separate legal battle with Hybe over a put-option dispute worth approximately 26 billion won.
In November 2024, she notified Hybe of her intent to exercise her put option, which would entitle her to receive 26 billion won.
However, Hybe claimed that her rights to the put option were no longer valid, as the shareholder agreement was terminated in July 2024.
The court is expected to review the legal validity of the put option alongside Hybe’s separate lawsuit seeking confirmation of the shareholder agreement’s termination. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK