Seoul Court Denies Min Hee-jin’s Request for CEO Reinstatement at ADOR

On October 29, 2024, South Korean news agency Sports Chosun reported that the Seoul Central District Court has rejected Min Hee-jin’s plea to be restored as the CEO of ADOR. This ruling signifies a pivotal moment in the protracted legal battle between Min and her former employer, HYBE. Min’s injunction, submitted in mid-September, sought to overturn the ADOR board’s choice to terminate her CEO position.

The court’s rejection of her injunction was issued by the 50th Civil Agreement Division of the Seoul court, under the guidance of Chief Judge Kim Sang-hoon. The court concluded that Min did not fulfill the necessary legal criteria for the request. HYBE appointed Kim Joo-young, who previously led HR at the company, as her successor, citing breaches in management control allegedly attributed to Min.

Min Hee-jin contested her dismissal, asserting that it breached her shareholder agreement with HYBE, which guaranteed her a five-year term. Despite the recent ruling, the board of ADOR sought a middle ground by voting on October 17 to prolong Min’s term—which was initially set to conclude on November 1—without reinstating her as CEO.

Moreover, Min pointed to a court ruling from May that barred ADOR’s board from terminating her under particular shareholder protections, arguing that her recent ousting contravened those safeguards.

Insights into the ongoing conflict between Min Hee-jin and HYBE regarding ADOR

This legal clash has been further underscored by earlier remarks from the members of NewJeans, who expressed their support for Min Hee-jin and advocated for her reinstatement during a live YouTube broadcast in September. The group of five emphasized Min’s critical influence in crafting their artistic identity. They declared,

“Our desire is for ADOR to revert to its original form, with Min Hee-jin as CEO, where management and production are unified. If our message gets through, we hope Bang Si-hyuk and HYBE will make a prudent decision to restore ADOR to its previous structure by the 25th.”

The group’s comments highlighted Min Hee-jin’s pivotal role in shaping their creative journey, appealing to HYBE to respect her leadership position.

In response, HYBE reaffirmed that the board of ADOR functions independently and that Min Hee-jin’s termination is aligned with the company’s autonomous strategic objectives. They also disclosed that the shareholder agreement with Min has already been nullified.

The entertainment entity mentioned that a lawsuit has been initiated to formalize this nullification, and they await the court’s decision. The company stated (translated from Korean):

“The shareholder agreement between HYBE and former CEO Min Hee-jin has been officially terminated. Upon termination, its legal validity is rendered void. A lawsuit has been initiated to validate the termination, and we are currently awaiting the court’s ruling.”

The recent ruling from the Seoul court seems to bolster HYBE’s position, with the organization expressing disappointment regarding Min’s actions, particularly considering her previous support for ADOR’s independent management.

This legal verdict now places ADOR under the leadership of Kim Joo-young as the industry anticipates further developments in this high-profile scenario.

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