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On October 29, 2024, South Korean media outlet Sports Chosun reported that the Seoul Central District Court denied Min Hee-jin’s request to be reinstated as ADOR's CEO. This marks a notable turn in the ongoing legal standoff between Min and ADOR’s parent company, HYBE. Filed in mid-September, Min’s injunction aimed to reverse the ADOR board's decision to remove her as CEO.
The decision to dismiss her injunction came after the 50th Civil Agreement Division of the Seoul court, led by Chief Judge Kim Sang-hoon. The court determined that Min’s request did not meet the necessary legal grounds. HYBE replaced her with Kim Joo-young, the company’s former head of HR, citing issues related to alleged management control breaches by Min.
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Following her dismissal, Min Hee-jin argued that her removal contradicted her shareholder agreement with HYBE, which had guaranteed her a five-year term. Despite the court’s recent ruling, ADOR’s board attempted a compromise, voting on October 17 to extend Min's term, originally ending on November 1, albeit not restoring her CEO position.
Min also referenced a May court ruling that prohibited ADOR’s board from removing her under certain shareholder protections, claiming her recent dismissal violated these protections.
More about the ongoing feud between ADOR's former CEO Min Hee-jin and HYBE
This legal dispute follows earlier efforts by NewJeans members, who voiced support for Min Hee-jin and called for her reinstatement in a YouTube live broadcast in September. All five members of the girl group emphasized her role in shaping the group's artistic vision. They stated,
"What we want is the original ADOR, where Min Hee-jin remains as CEO and where management and producing are integrated. If our message has been properly conveyed, we hope Bang Si-hyuk and HYBE will make the wise decision to revert ADOR back to its original state by the 25th."
The members’ statements underscored the then-CEO's influence on their creative direction, urging HYBE to honor her role as a leader. Subsequently, HYBE responded by clarifying that Min’s shareholder agreement had been terminated, rendering her demands legally ineffective.
HYBE reiterated that ADOR's board operates autonomously and that Min Hee-jin’s removal was part of ADOR’s independent strategic direction. They further revealed that the shareholder agreement between them and Min had already been terminated.
The entertainment company also noted that a lawsuit had been filed to confirm this termination, and they are currently awaiting the court's ruling. The label stated (as translated from Korean):
“The shareholder agreement between HYBE and former CEO Min Hee-jin has already been terminated. Once the agreement is terminated, its legal effect is void. A lawsuit has been filed to confirm the termination of the shareholder agreement, and we are awaiting the court’s decision.”
The Seoul court's decision appears to reaffirm HYBE’s stance, with the company asserting disappointment over Min’s approach, especially given her past advocacy for ADOR’s independent management.
This legal outcome now places ADOR under Kim Joo-young’s leadership, while the industry awaits potential future developments in this high-profile dispute.
